Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami

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>From Bhakti-ratnakara

 

 

The particulars about the ancestors of Sri Gopala Bhatta

 

Mahaprabhu met Sri Gopala Bhatta in South India.

 

I shall summarize the history of the Bhatta family: Sri Gopala Bhatta was

the son of Sri Venkata Bhatta.

 

Sri Venkata Bhatta lived in the south and was a renowned brahmin scholar of

all sastras.

 

Trimalla, Venkata and Sri Prabodha nanda were three brothers of whom Sri

Gaura candra was the very life and soul.

 

Formerly they were worshippers of Sri Laksmi Narayana, but by the favor of

Mahaprabhu they later became great devotees of Radha Krsna.

 

During his visit to the South, Prabhu Gaurahari spent four happy months in

the house of the Bhattas.

 

In the book Caitanya Caritamrta, there was a beautiful description of the

Lord's Southern tour.

 

There was no mention of Gopala Bhatta in the Caitanya Caritamrta but his

family is mentioned.

 

In Caitanya Caritamrta (madhu kanda 9/82-83) there is mention of a Vaisnava

named Sri Venkata Bhatta who respectfully invited Prabhu to his house.

 

He washed the feet of the Lord and drank the water with all the members of

his family.

 

It was said that Gopala, the son of Venkata became ecstatically emotional by

drinking that water.

 

Although he tried to control his body it shivered in ecstatic love.

 

Gopala was a beautiful young man whose complexion was as bright as a golden

champaka flower.

 

His lotus like face had large eyes and eyebrows and his nose and forehead

bore the bright tilaka of the Vaisnavas.

 

How beautiful were his ears and neck. How beautiful were his hands, chest

and thin waist.

 

How beautiful were his shank, knees, reddish feet. He wore bright clothes

and was decorated with many ornaments.

 

Everyone was fascinated by his ever increasing beauty and his manliness.

 

Having received Mahaprabhu - his life and soul - Gopala engage himself most

gladly in the Lord's service.

 

I worship Sri Gopala Bhatta Prabhu who was the best of all brahmanas and was

engaged with utmost sincerity in the service of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

I am unable to describe how Gaurahari favored Sri Gopala Bhatta.

 

The character of Sri Gopala Bhatta

 

Nevertheless I shall attempt to describe the character of Gopala who was

always engaged in the service of Sri Mahaprabhu.

 

He was not satisfied to see Mahaprabhu as an ascetic but he lamented

privately.

 

He addressed Providence with a choked voice, "O Providence, why was I born

in this far away place?

 

"Why have you forced me to see Prabhu in the dress of an ascetic and

deprived me from observing His pastimes in Nadia?

 

"How cruel you are to allow Him the life of a renunciate when I long to see

Him as Vrajendra Nandana, the Lord of Sri Radhika."

 

Lamenting in this way he wept like a mad man and breathed a heavy sigh as

hot as fire.

 

Forgiving Providence, Gopala then lamented that the ill fortune was his own

fault.

 

Having spent himself in lamentation, Gopala remained reticent yet Gaurahari

could understand the state of Gopala's mind.

 

When Gopala fell asleep, the Lord of Navadvipa appeared to him in a dream.

 

Lord Gaurasundara strolling through the streets of Navadvipa and he was

there with him.

 

Nityananda and Advaita took him lovingly in their arms but when they were

about to tell him something, he woke up from his sleep.

 

Gopala looked around in bewilderment and them went impatiently to find Sri

Gaura.

 

Mahaprabhu was delighted and revealed Himself in the form of a cowherd boy

with a blue complexion.

 

The divine beauty remained but in a few moments the blue complexion turned

golden.

 

The glow of Gaurasundara's beauty enchanted the universe. How beautiful was

that hair that curled across His shoulders.

 

His forehead was decorated by Vaisnava tilaka, his eyebrows were

dramatically raised and his magnificent glance stole the hearts of all the

ladies.

 

His beautiful face defeated the pride of the autumn moon and His smile

showered nectar.

 

His beautiful dhoti was wrapped with three folds and decorated with various

ornaments, His gestures and postures were fascinating.

 

The garland of malati flowers hanging round Nimai's neck enchanted Gopala.

 

He fell to the feet of Mahaprabhu and again looked at his face

withexpectation, but the Lord had reassumed His ascetic form.

 

Prabhu Gauracandra pacified Gopala and gave him direct instructions.

 

He ordered him to go to Vrndavana as soon as possible for there he would

meet two valuable jewels namely Rupa and Sanatana.

 

"Tell them about My desire," said Mahaprabhu. "In Vrndavana, you will get

many disciples from all over the world."

 

Having instructed Gopala, Prabhu took him in his lap and soaked his body

with tears from His own eyes.

 

Prabhu advised Gopala to keep the instructions confidential and not discus

them with anyone. Gopala was very happy with that.

 

Sri Venkata Bhatta was satisfied seeing the sincerity with which Gopala

served Sri Gauranga.

 

He dedicated his son to the gracious feet of Gauracandra and became truly

happy. Thereafter Gopala spent his days and nights with Sri Gaurahari.

 

The thought that Prabhu would leave their house after four months made the

three brothers morose.

 

Trimalla, Venkata and Sri Prabodha nanda wondered how they could spend their

days without Prabhu.

 

"Who will joke with us" they asked each other. "Who will accompany us while

we bathe in the river Kaveri?

 

"Who will perform san kirtana in the temple of Ranganatha and who will give

worthless fellows like us the gem of devotion?

 

Without Prabhu's presence these crowds will all disperse and the holy place

shall be vacant."

 

Though tears streamed silently down their faces, they did not disclose their

worries to any one.

 

At the end of the scheduled four months when Prabhu actually left their

houses, they cried out in despair.

 

As the Lord left their house, the Bhatta's fell on the ground at His feet.

 

Prabhu pacified the three brothers by embracing them affectionately.

 

After pacifying Gopala, Mahaprabhu continued on His Southern tour. At last

He reached Nilacala where He met His associated and devotees.

 

He visited Gauda and Vrndavana where He also met many of His devotees.

 

The great ascetic Sri Krsna Caitanya gratified the Kali Yuga with help of

his devotees.

 

Wherever he went he informed his devotees that he had decided to stay in

Nilacala.

 

But in South India Sri Venkata Bhatta and his two brothers grew morose

because of the separation from Sri Caitanya.

 

In the absence of his master Sri Gopala's state of mind was

beyonddescription.

 

He reflected on that moment of separation when Mahaprabhu had assured him

that his desires would soon be fulfilled.

 

He thought of Mahaprabhu's promise to take him to Vrndavana.

 

Gopala remained absorbed in love of Sri Gauranga, and his fame in explaining

devotional doctrines began to spread throughout the country.

 

His pleasure was derived from spreading the glories of Sri Gauranga and

defeating the views of the illusionists.

 

Educated people eulogized Gopala Bhatta and wondered how he had gained so

much knowledge so easily.

 

Somebody said, "The credit goes to Sri Parabodha nanda who has educated him

since his childhood.

 

"No one can match the learning of Sri Gopala who certainly gained his

knowledge through the earnest efforts of his uncle."

 

Somebody said, "Because of his vast learning Prabhonanda has earned the

title Saraswati.

 

Whether awake or sleeping he never thinks of anyone but his Lord Sri Krsna

Caitanya."

 

According to Hari Bhakti Vilasa (1:2) "Gopala Bhatta, the disciple of Srila

Prabodhananda and a favorite devotee of Lord Sri Gaura Sundara, is compiling

the book Sri Hari Bhakti Vilasa, having satisfied Sri Raghunatha dasa and

Rupa Sanatana."

 

A renunciate in worldly matters, Sri Gopala Bhatta was both affectionate and

poetic.He was an expert in singing, playing musical instruments and dancing.

 

The book of verse compiled by Sri Gopala Bhatta for which Prabhonanda should

be given first credit - uses to enchant both the readers and the listeners.

 

In this way, everyone praised Sri Prabodhananda and Gopala, his nephew who

was highly learned and also kind hearted.

 

Sri Gopala took serious responsibility in looking after his parents who were

always satisfied with him.

 

Once a brahmin told Sri Venkata Bhatta, "You must be proud to be the father

of a son who is illustrious in every way.

 

"I have never seen such deep devotion as your son exhibits nor such

submission toward parents."

 

Venkata Bhatta was delighted to tell the brahmin about Gopala's life long

endurance to be a great man.

 

Gopala had eagerly anticipated seeing Lord Jagannatha in Nilacala and at the

same time he was interested in learning Vyakarana and other scriptures.

 

Sri Venkata Bhatta also told the brahmin how his son Gopala had shown

sincerity in serving Sri Krsna Caitanya, the Absolute Being.

 

The brahmin enjoyed the stories about Gopala and admired Sri VenkataBhatta

for being the happy father of such a fine son. Thereafter the brahmin

returned home.

 

The parents of Gopala were certainly fortunate to have a son who had fully

dedicated himself to the gracious feet of Sri Caitanya.

 

They gladly lpermitted their son to go to Vrndavana and thereafter they

uttered the name of Mahaprabhu and left the world forever.

 

After sometime Gopala met Rupa and Sanatana in Vrndavana.

 

Although Sri Caitanya was in Nilacala at that time because he was God

Himself He could understand that Gopala had gone to Vrndavana.

 

One day he left he house of Misra and went to meet Gopinatha and Gadadhara.

 

The attraction Gouracandra felt towards Gadadhara was a precious emotion

which only a vastly fortunate man could have deserved.168

 

Similarly the depth of the friendships between Nityananda and Gadadhara was

beyond ordinary comprehension.

 

Descriptions of the interactions between Gadadhara and Advaita used to give

a sense of soothing relief to those who heard them.

 

Srivasa Pandita always admired Sri Pandita Gadadhara and considered him more

dear than his own life.

 

No one culd understand what happiness lay in the relation between Prabhu

Haridasa and Prabhu Gadadhara.

 

Nor could they grasp what sort of love prevailed between Pandita Sri

Gadadhara and Dasa Gadadhara.

 

No human being exists who can adequately describe the loving relationship

between Gadadhara and his Lord Sri Gaurasundara.

 

In the house of Gadadhara Prabhu and his devotees used to take their seats.

 

Only the most fortunate could witness the beautiful scene.

 

The great ascetic, Prabhu Gaurarai, softly spoke His mind to the devotees.

 

" I feel concerned because I have not received any news from Vraja for a

long time."

 

He told the devotees that he wanted to send some letters to Vrndavana, but

as He spoke, a letter arrived from Rupa and Sanatana in Vraja giving news of

Gopala Bhatta's arrival there.

 

In His enthusiam over the letter, Mahaprabhu began to describe Gopala to his

devotees.

 

"During My southern tour, I had the pleasure of staying at the house of

Venkata Bhatta.

 

"There I met Sri Bhatta's son Gopala who had already proven himself a great

scholar of all scriptures.

 

"With the permission of his father, Gopala had gladly served Me with great

sincerity.

"Lord Krsna has been kind to him and he has now gone to live in Vrndavana.

 

"Rupa and Sanatana are very dear to Me and they sent Me a letter as soon as

Gopala arrived there."

 

Prabhu's devotees were happy to hear the Lord relate His story.

 

The Lord praised Rupa and Sanatana and then sent them His reply.

 

He wrote, "I am glad to hear of Gopala's arrival in Vrndavana. You should

accept him as your own brother.

 

"Continue to send Me letters from time to time informing Me of your welfare

and activities.

 

"The books which you have already written and those which you are currently

writing will later be well accepted by the world.

 

"The person who will help to circulate all books, has now arrived by the

wish of Lord Krsna."

 

Mahaprabhu ordered a person to take the letter and many clothes for his

Vrndavana disciples and to leave without delay for Vraja.

 

When the coruier met the Gosvamis in Vrndavana, he delivered the doras,

Kaupinas and outer garments along with the letter.

 

I dare not attempt to describe how joyfully the Gosvamis received the gifts

and letter from Mahaprabhu.

 

Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana lovingly accepted Sri Gopala as their brother.

 

An internal revelation helped Gopala identify Sanatana Gosvami at once.

 

Sri Sanatana Gosvami described the book Sri Hari Bhakti Vilasa to Gopala.

 

While listening to the book, Gopala harbored a secret to serve the deity of

the Lord. One night in a dream, Sri Govinda dev told Rupa about Gopala's

desrie.

 

Under Sri Rupa's affectionate guidance Gopala learned to serve Sri Radha

Raman.

 

This subject shall be discussed in detail later, but for now I will say that

Gopala's effort in serving the Lord was very sincere.

 

Lokenatha, Bhugarva, Pandita Kasiwara, Sri Paramananda and the other

devotees all showered thier love on Gopala Bhatta.

 

He liked to spend his days with Rupa Sanatana discussing the loving pastimes

of Sri Krsna Caitanya.

 

Sri Gopala's heart swelled with love for Sanatana while a deep friendship

grew between him and Sri Rupa.

 

But above all other relationships, Sri Bhatta relished his absorbtion in the

service of Sri Radha Raman.

 

By dint of his knowledge and devotion, Gopala could satisfy anyone's

desirea, and he soon became dear to everyone in Vrndavana.

According to Prachinairapuktama:I pay my tribute to Sri Gopala Bhatta who

became satisfied by the love and friendship of Sanatana and Rupa Gosvami and

who constantly remained absorbed in the service of Sri Radha Ramana.

 

Some have tried to describe the activities of Gopala Bhatta, but many have

failed.

 

Whoever tries to debate the deep rooted significance of his life will be

plagued by guilt.

 

Even the former great poets had failed to describe the whole life and

activity of Gopala Bhatta.

 

I hope that I will be able to describe it later but not now.

 

Although Thakura Vrndavana Thakura described the pastimes of Prabh he did

not dare mention the Lord's South Indian tour.

 

Vrndavana dasa was the incarnationof Sri Vyasa deva, yet on the advice of

Veda Vyasa, he did not describe that part of the Lord's lila.

 

Being empowered by Veda Vyasa, Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja took pleasure in

elaborately describing that South Indian tour.

 

But he also omitted certain parts so that later poets could elaborate on

them just as a guru keeps remnants of food for his disciples to accept as

prasadam.

 

A laymen cannot understand the writing of a great poet so people should give

up their speculations on such writings and simply try to accept them as they

are.

 

Before attempting to write about Prabhu and His associates Sri Kaviraja made

a serious effort to understand their characters in depth.

 

Vaisnava poets would always approach the devotees of Mahaprabhu in order to

understand their desires. After taking their guidance and permission the

poets would write.

 

Having taken permission from many devotees, Krsnadasa kaviraja wrote several

books.

 

Sri Gopala Bhatta would not permit his name to be mentioned in amy of the

books although he did authorize and encourage Sri Kaviraja to write.

 

As ignorant persons we will never know why Gopala Bhatta forbade his name to

be mentioned. Perhaps his humility did not allow it.

 

Kaviraja had'nt the audicity to flout his order and thus Gopala's name is

mentioned rarely in Sri Kaviraja's book.

 

I have heard from an old Vaisnava that Lokenatha Gosvami gave the same order

that his name not be used.

 

Krsnadasa Kaviraja took pleasure in writing the infrequent passages which

glorified Gopala Bhatta, and he never told Sri Bhatta how he had written

them.

 

I cannot write extentively about the depth of knowledge of Sri Gopala Bhatta

during his life in Vrndavana for fear the book will become too large.