Mukunda Datta Prabhu about Sri Nathaji

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Shri Govardhana-nathaji, or Shrinathaji

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The Deity now known as Shri Govardhana-nathaji, or Shrinathaji, who

now stays in Nathadvara, is the same Deity once worshipped by Srila Madhavendra

 

Puri, the parama-guru of Lord Caitanya.

Probably the wealthiest Deity in North India, Shrinathaji has always

been enthusiastically pampered with elaborate and aesthetically refined seva,

offered with great affection by many devotees. Especially notable are His

diverse shringara (dressing and decoration) and bhoga offerings. Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura suggests that we can all learn the art of Deity worship

from

those who worship Shrinathaji. His lotus feet are seen by those who chant Hare

 

Krsna without offense. He is in the pose of holding Govardhana hill aloft with

 

His left hand (cf. Cc., Madhya-lila, 18.38). Like may ancient Deities, there

is a pITha (rectangular frame) around His transcendental form, and it is

decorated with various auspicious figures and symbols. The Lord's complexion

is

blackish, like monsoon clouds ready to burst, and he often holds lotus flowers.

 

He appears as a charming, seven year old boy. His eyes are also like lotus

petals, or, according to Srila Raghunathadasa Gosvami (Gopala-raja-stora, 3),

like the bow of Kamadeva; still others explain His downward gaze as His

merciful glance, looking down upon us all (kRpAvalokana).

As described in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Shrinathaji was

previously known as Gopala (cf. Cc., Madhya-lila, 4.1). His worship was taken

over by

devotees in the Vallabha sampradaya shortly after Srila Madhavendra Puri's

disappearance. However, this transfer is somewhat controversial, as Vallabhite

 

literature reports that it was a forced takeover: the pujaris' homes were set

on fire, and while they went to put out the fires, new pujaris took over the

temple. But an edition of the Bhaktiratnakara says the Deity service was given

 

to Vitthalanatha Gosvami (Vallabhacarya's son), by Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.

Whatever happened, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami clearly recognized the love

Vitthalanatha and his followers had for the Gopala Deity (Gopalaraja-stotra,

13-14),

as did Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura a couple centuries later (in his

Gopaladevastaka, 7). It seems that many of our acaryas previously had closer

association with the Pusti-marga acaryas, and several of them also saw

Shrinathaji when He stayed at the home of Vallabha's son near Mathura (cf. Cc.,

 

Madhya-lila, 18.47).

Srinathaji, or Gopala, was evidently quite popular with other

medieval devotees as well, a there were Gaudiya preachers who founded

Shrinathaji

temples in present-day Pakistan (Dera Ghazi Khan). Srinathaji was even

worshipped as far away as Russia (in the lower Volga region) and other places

on the

Central Asian trade routes. About three hundred years ago, the Deity moved

from Govardhana to Rajasthana, like many other Deities of Vraja. He has been

opulently worshipped there (in the town that has built up around Him) ever

since. Tradition holds that He will one day return to Govardhana, though only

He

really knows when.

Several years ago, Back to Godhead magazine did a nice feature

article on Shrinathaji. If you're interested, I can suggest some further

(though

mostly academic) readings about Shrinathaji. Meanwhile, here's a verse from

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura (Gopaladevastaka, 8):

prati-dinam adhunApi prekSyate sarvadApi

praNaya-su-rasa-caryA yasya varyA saparyA |

gaNayati kati bhogAn kaH kRtI tat-prayogAn

sphuratu hRdi sa eva zrIla gopAla-devaH ||

Every single day, even now, transcendental varieties of nectarean, loving

service are offered (to Gopala); in this regard, who is the pious person who

could count all the offerings? May that very same Lord, Sri Gopala, manifest

within your heart.

I hope this is helpful. Hare Krishna!

Your humble servant,

Mukunda Datta dasa