Sanatana Gosvami

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July 13th, 2003, Sunday (Purnima)

 

Guru (Vyasa) Purnima

Disappearance day of Srila Sanatana Gosvami

 

Srila Sanatana Gosvami was born in 1488. He was the older brother of

Sri Rupa Gosvami. They were educated in Sakurma, a village near the capital

of Gauda (Bengal). The brothers were forced to work as government ministers

for Nawab Hussein Shah, the ruler of Bengal, in Ramekeli. Sanatana was known

as Sakara Mallik and appointed private secretary.

 

In 1514 Sanatana Gosvami met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Ramekeli and

was initiated by him.

 

He eventually managed to shake off his government duties and escape

from eventual imprisonment by the Nawab, to make his way to Benares where he

met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu enlightened Sanatana

into the truths of bhakti and devotion and further instructed him to:

 

(1) write books on devotional service,

(2) establish proper devotee etiquette,

(3) install Deities and proper deity worship and

(4) to excavate the lost holy places of pilgrimage in Vrindavana.

 

 

Sanatana's literary works include:

 

(1) Hari-bhakti-Vilasa,

(2) Brihad-bhagavatamrita,

(3) Dig-darsini Tika (commentary on Brihad-bhagavatamrita),

(4) Dasama-tippani (also known as the Brihad-Vaishanva-Tosani), and the

(5) Dasama-charita.

 

His most important work is the Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa, which covers the

code and conduct of Vaishnavas. The Brihad-bhagavatamrita expounds on the

science of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings. The Dasama-tipanni is a

commentary on the tenth canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam and the

Dasama-charita covers Krishna's pastimes up to Mathura.

 

Sanatana Gosvami established worship of the Madana Mohana Deity.

With the help of a wealthy merchant Krishna Dasa Kapoor, a lavish temple was

built for Sri Madana Mohana. This temple still stands today, and is an

important place of pilgrimage for all Gaudiya Vaisnavas.

 

Sanatana passed away at the age of 70 in 1558.