Fwd: The Great Sanatana Gosvami .

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Hare Krishna ! Pranam to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and all Vaishnavas,

 

The Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan consist of ; the brothers Sanatana Goswami and

Rupa Goswami , their nephew Jiva Goswami Raghuram Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha

Dasa Goswami and Gopala Bhatta Gosvami . They all studied Vaishanvism and were

prominent Vaishnava Acharyas and close followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu . He

sent them to Vrindavana (Vrindavan) with instruction to recover the holy places

connected to Sri Krishna's pastimes, build temples and write books on

Vaishnavism .

 

Sanatana Gosvami is one of the greatest Vaishnava Acharyas . His lifestorey

reveals to us the true way of serving Bhagavan Sri Krishna who is ever willing

to be with His devotees .

 

Sanatana's Birth and Early Years

 

Sanatana, or Amara as he was named at birth, was born in Jessore in East Bengal

(present day Bangladesh) in 1488 as the son of Mukunda , the private secretary

of the Sultan of Bengal , Jalaluddin Fateh Shah (ruled 1481-1487 CE). Sanatana

was the eldest son of Mukunda and his younger brothers were Santosha (Rupa

Goswami) and Srivallabha (Anupama).

 

Sanatana and his brothers studied Nyaya (rhetortic) and Vedanta from the famous

logician Vasudeva Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. They also studied under the brother

of Sarvabhauma, Madhusudana Vidyavacaspati, whom Sanatana took initiation from

in his childhood.

 

On the death of his father, Sanatana was forced to take up the post of Sakara

Mallika (treasurer) to the new ruler of Bengal, Alauddin Hussein Shah (ruled

1493 -1519 CE), while his brother Rupa was given the post of Dabir-i-khas

(private secretary).

 

First meeting With Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

 

Sanatana and Rupa received land from the government for their personal use in

Fatehbad where they built a huge palace. They also built several beautiful

mansions at Ramakeli .

 

One morning, Sanatana Gosvami, saw a dream in which one brahmana was presenting

the Srimad Bhagavatam to him. Suddenly he woke up, but seeing that no one was

there, he felt sad. Later on, in the morning after he had finished his bath and

performance of puja, one brahmana came to his house and presented him with the

Bhagavatam, instructing him to study it very thoroughly. Having received it in

this way, he was beside himself with bliss, and from that day, considering the

Bhagavatam to be the essence of all scriptures, he began its thorough study.

 

" My only constant companion, my only friend, guru, wealth, that which has

delivered me, my great fortune and the source of my good luck, the form through

which I taste pleasure, my obeisances to you, Srimad Bhagavatam. "

 

It was at Ramakeli in 1510 that Sanatana and his two brothers met Chaitanya

Mahaprabhu for the first time .

 

After meeting them, Chaitanya gave them the names Sanatana, Rupa and Anupama .

Due to this meeting, the brothers decided to renounce the world and join

Chaitanya and his entourage . Rupa resigned from his post, but Sanatana's

resignation was refused by the Sultan . Sanatana stopped coming to court and

feigned sickness . However, when the Sultan sent his personal physicians to

treat Sanatana, they returned to him and reported that Sanatana was in perfectly

good health. The Sultan personally visited Sanatana and tried to convince him to

continue to render his govenmental duties and accompany him on a military

campaign against the neighnoring state of Orissa. Upon Sanatana's refusal,

Hussein Shah had him thrown into prison for insubordination.

 

Sanatana managed to escape from the prison , crossed the Ganges River and

reached Vrindavana .

 

Sanatana Meets Chaitanya in Benares

 

Sanatana made his way to Vrindavana via Benares , but discovered that Chaitanya

Mahaprabhu had already left Vrindavana and was actually residing in Benares at

present . After meeting with Sanatana, Chaitanya imparted instructions to him

pertaining to sambandha-jnana (knowledge of the self and ones relationship with

God) . Through his teachings to Sanatana, Chaitanya taught that the

constitutional identity of each soul is to be an eternal servant of God .

Chaitanya also explained his teachings to Sanatana by summarizing them in three

categories – sambandha (ones relationship with Godhead), abhidheya (the method

to revive that relationship) and prayojana (the ultimate attainment of the

supreme goal of life) . After instrucing Sanatana in the sambandha aspect of

Vaishnava theology, he instructed him to go to Vrindavana where he visited the

sites that were connected to Sri Krishna's pastimes .

 

After travelling to Puri to meet Chaitanya once more. Here, he received four

direct instructions from Chaitanya –

 

1) To write books teaching pure devotion to Krishna.

 

2) To discover and excavate the places in Vrindavana where Krishna had his

pastimes.

 

3) To establish the service of the Deity of Sri Krishna in Vrindavana .

 

4) To compile a book establishing the proper behavior for devotees of Krishna in

order to create the foundations of a Vaishnava society.

 

Sanatana in Vrindavana

 

Sanatana Goswami returned to Vrindavana where he engaged himself in searching

out the various holy spots there.

 

In a kutir cottage made from leaves, Sanatana Gosvami lived for some time at

Mahabon, the birth place of Sri Krishna.

 

Deity of Madana Mohana (Sri Krishna) .

 

According to the varying nature devotees, Bhagavan Krishna's pastimes also

occur in different ways, according to the internal moods and sentiments felt

by Krishna and His devotees. The Madana Mohana Deity resided at the home of one

Mathura brahmana, Damodar Caube by name. Damodar Caube, his wife Ballabha and

their son, Madan Mohan, used to worship the Deity in the mood of parental

affection and friendship. Damodar Caube's son used to play together with Lord

Madana Gopala. Sometimes, like naughty brothers, they would slight one another

and then complain to the parents. Their parents would feed them together at the

same time and lay them down to rest together .

 

Sanatana Gosvami used to sometimes beg chapattis from Caube's house. When he saw

how the Deity was being worshipped he would instruct Damodara's wife

Ballabhadevi in the rules and regulations of proper Deity worship. However, she

found all of these rules very difficult to follow. One day when Sanatan saw the

Deity Madana Gopala and the boy Madan Mohan eating their lunch together, he

became moved by the transcendental mood there and the symptoms of ecstatic love

appeared in his body. Then he told Ballabhadevi that she should worship Madana

Gopala according to the dictates of her heart.

 

One night Sanatana Gosvami and Damodar Caube's wife both had a dream

simultaneously in which Madana Gopala requested to be able to come and live with

Sanatana Gosvami.

 

Next day, Sanatana was walking along the banks of the Yamuna, going to beg some

foodstuffs in a nearby village. `Madana Gopaladeva' (Bhagavan Sri Krishna) was

playing with some cowherd boys there, and when He saw Sanatana Gosvami He came

running towards him, " Baba! Baba! " . Catching hold of Sanatan's hand He told him,

" I want to go with you! " .

 

" Lala! " replied Sanatan, " Why do you want to go with me? " .

" I want to stay where you live. "

" If you stay with me, what will you eat? "

" Baba! Whatever you eat. "

" But I only eat some dry chapattis and chick peas. "

" Then that is what I will eat. "

" No that won't be enough for you. You should stay with your mother and father. "

" No, Baba . No. I want to stay with you . "

 

Sanatana Gosvami did not realise that the boy is Bhagavan Madana Gopala (Sri

Krishna) Himself . He patiently explained that the boy might feel difficulty if

he stayed with him, and sent the boy home. Then Sanatana went to beg some

chapattis in the village.

 

That night, in a dream, he saw that boy again come to him . Smiling very

sweetly, he caught hold of Sanatan's hand and said, " Baba ! I am coming tomorrow

to stay with you . My name is Madana Gopal . " His dream ended and he woke up.

Losing himself in great ecstasy, he said to himself , " What did I see?. Such a

beautiful boy! " . Thinking of Bhagavan Sri Krishna he opened the door to his hut

and saw standing outside a beautiful Deity of Madana Gopala . Bhagavan's

effulgence shone in all directions. For a few seconds Sanatan was completely

stunned as he gazed upon Gopal's radiant smile. He expected that the Deity might

say something or come towards him . Finally, tears of love gliding down his

cheeks, Sanatan fell to the ground, offering his dandavats .

 

Gradually, he performed Gopal's abhiseka (bathed the Deity) and offered worship

to Him . Sanatan's brother Rupa came there and, seeing the Deity, was deeply

moved in ecstatic love . Sanatan kept the Deity with him in his leaf hut and

began to worship Him in great happiness . Srila Rupa Gosvami immediately sent

word of this auspicious event to Mahaprabhu at Puri .

 

Sanatana used to serve Madana Gopala, preparing offerings for Him from whatever

he obtained by begging. One day Madana Gopala refused to eat, complaining that

there wasn't even any salt in the chapattis. Sanatan replied, " Today it's salt

and tomorrow it will be ghee. But I am sorry. I don't have the time or the

inclination to chase around after rich men requesting special items from them. "

Having silently listened to this reply Madana Mohana didn't say anything

further, but rather arranged that the rich merchant Krishna dasa Kapoor would

come that way, as will subsequently be described.

 

Sanatana Gosvami would beg some flour from the village and then with that

prepare chapattis for Madana Gopala. Sometimes he would collect some forest

vegetables, roots or spinach and also prepare some vegetables. If sometimes

there was no ghee or oil, or salt, then he would just cook dry chapattis. But he

felt very bad about this. On the other hand, he could not see an alternative.

Mahaprabhu had ordered him to compile Bhakti-sastras (devotional scriptures) and

the major portion of his time was devoted to that. Sometimes it simply wasn't

possible to find time to beg some money with which to purchase salt and oil.

 

Madana Mohana is the son of a Maharaja. Seeing that He is simply eating dry

chapattis Sanatana felt very sad ; Madana Mohana, who is within the heart of

everyone could understand, 'Sanatan wants to render greater service to Me.' Then

Madana Mohana Himself desired that His service might be increased. "

 

Within a few days a wealthy Ksatriya named Sri Krishna dasa Kapoor came to

Mathura to engage in trade and business. Accidentally , however, his boat became

stuck on a sand bar in the Yamuna and by no means could he manage to free it .

Then, he came to learn that a sadhu by the name of Sri Sanatana Gosvami was

living nearby. In order to seek the blessings of the sadhu, Krishna dasa Kapoor

came to his hermitage and found Sanatana Gosvami engaged in writing.

 

Sanatana Gosvami's body was very lean and thin from the practice of great

austerities and he was wearing only a kaupin . Krishna dasa offered his

dandavats and Sanatana Gosvami in turn offered him a grass mat to sit on .

Krishna dasa touched the mat with his hand and sat on the ground . He appealed

to the Gosvami, " Baba! Please bestow your mercy on me. "

 

Sanatan replied, " I am a beggar. What mercy can I bestow upon you? "

" I simply want your blessings. My boat is stuck on a sand bar in the Yamuna, and

we can't free it by any means. "

" I am completely ignorant about all these matters You can speak to Madana Gopala

about it. "

 

Krishna dasa offered his dandavats to Madana Mohanji and spoke to Him, " O Madana

Gopala Deva! If, by Your mercy my boat is freed, then whatever profit is

realized from the sale of its cargo, I will give to this Gosvami to be engaged

in Your service. "

 

Praying this way, Krishna dasa Seth took leave from Sanatana Gosvami. That

afternoon there was such a downpour of rain that the boat very easily floated

off the sand bar and on to Mathura . Krishna dasa could understand that this was

the mercy of Lord Madana Gopala Deva . His goods were sold at a very handsome

profit and with this money he constructed a temple and kitchen and made all the

necessary arrangements for the royal execution of Sri Madana Gopal's worship .

Seeing this arrangement, Sanatana Gosvami was very happy and after some period

initiated Krishna dasa Kapoor as his disciple.

 

Sri Madana Mohana Deva is presently worshiped at Karauli, Rajasthan . When the

daughter of the king of Jaipur was offered in marriage to the king of Karauli,

she very insistently requested that her father send Lord Madana Mohana with her

as a dowry, as she was very attached to Him . Her father was very reluctant and

agreed only after stipulating one condition : " Madana Mohana would be placed in

a room with many other similar Murtis . Whoever she chose while blindfolded

could go with her to Karauli . "

 

Madana Mohana reassured her in a dream by telling her that she would be able to

recognize Him by the soft touch of His arm . By this stratagem, she easily

recognized Madana Mohana who still resides in Kaurali till this day.

 

Clarification about Rasharani's Hair style

 

One day Sanatana Gosvami came to Radha-kunda to meet brother Sri Rupa and Sri

Raghunatha dasa Gosvami . Upon his arrival they both got up to greet him and

after respectfully seating him, they immersed themselves in discussion of the

nectarean pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna . At that time Srila Rupa Gosvami

was composing some hymns in praise of Srimati Radharani, collectively known as

" Catu uspanjali " .

 

Sanatana Gosvami, while reading these, came across one verse:

 

anava gorocana gauri

praba rendi barambaram

amani stavak vidyoti

veni byalangana fanam

 

Here " byalangana fanam " means that the braids of Radharani's hair appeared very

beautiful like the hoods of a snake . Sanatana Gosvami reflected, " Is that a

proper comparison 'like the hood of a poisonous snake'? "

 

At noon Sanatana came to the banks of Radha-kunda, and after offering prayers

there, he began to take his bath . Then, on the opposite bank of the kunda, he

noticed some cowherd girls playing under the shade of a large tree . As he

watched them from the distance, it appeared that a black snake, hanging from the

tree, was about to wrap itself around the neck and shoulders of one of those

cowherd girls. Sensing some danger he called out to her, " Ohe Lali ! Look out !

There is a snake just behind you! " . But the girls were absorbed in their play

and didn't take notice of him . So he immediately took off running to save them

from the impending danger. Seeing him approaching them, Srimati Radharani and

Her friends began to laugh. Then they disappeared. Sanatan was completely

stunned but then gradually the understanding came to him that Sri Rupa's

comparison was appropriate.

 

Sri Krishna brings Milk for Sanatana.

 

Coming to the banks of Pavan Sarovar, Sanatana Gosvami entered into a forest

there, and giving up food and water, he became absorbed in intense meditation on

the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda . Bhagavan Sri Krishna, who is within

the heart of His devotees, could understand that this devotee was going without

food. So He came there dressed as a cowherd boy, with a pot of milk in His

hand, and stood smiling before Sanatana Gosvami.

 

" Baba! I brought some milk for you. "

" Oh Lala! Why have you gone to such trouble for me? "

" I saw you are sitting here for so long without any food. "

" How do you know that I am not eating anything? "

" I come here to pasture my cows and I watch you to see what you are doing. But

you never take any food. "

" You should have sent someone else, you are just a small boy. You have suffered

some difficulty in bringing this milk here for me. "

" No, no, Baba. It was no trouble. At home everyone else was busy, so I was happy

to be able to come myself. "

Sanatana Gosvami requested the boy to sit down while he transferred the milk

into another container.

" No Baba! I can't sit down now. It is almost sunset. I have to milk my cows now.

I will come to get the pot tomorrow . "

 

When Sanatan looked up there was no one there. He could understand Bhagavan Sri

Krishna Himself had brought him this milk . With tears of love streaming down

his cheek, he drank the delicious milk . From that day he gave up fasting and

would go to beg some food-stuffs from the Brijabasis (inmates of Vrindavana) .

The Brijabasis also built him a small hut .

 

Radharani brings Rice, Sugar and Milk .

 

One day Rupa Gosvami had a desire to cook some sweet rice for his elder brother,

Sanatana, but he had none of the necessary materials . Srimati Radharani who

fulfils the desires of Vaishanvas, could understand everything . Dressing

Herself as a cowherd girl, she came there carrying a basket containing rice and

sugar with a pot of milk in her other hand. " Svamin! Svamin ! Please accept this

offering which I have brought . "

 

Hearing someone calling in such a sweet voice, Rupa e opened the door of the

kutir and saw an extremely beautiful cowherd girl standing there with a present

of rice, sugar and milk in her hands.

 

" Lali! What brings you here so early this morning? "

" Svamin, I came to bring you this present. "

" Oh! But you have gone to so much trouble. "

" What trouble? I have come to serve the sadhus. "

 

Sri Rupa requested her to sit down, but she replied that there was much work at

home, so she couldn't sit down just now. And then she was gone. Sri Rupa looked

up and saw that there was no one there and was a little startled. " Now where did

she run off to so quickly? "

 

He prepared the sweet rice and after offering to Sri Giridhari, he gave the

prasadam to Sri Sanatana Gosvami . Sanatana was in total ecstasy while accepting

this prasadam and inquired, " From where did you get the rice and milk? "

 

Sri Rupa replied, " One cowherd girl brought everything. "

 

Sanatana asked, " Just like that ? Suddenly she brought everything ? "

 

" Yes . This morning I was thinking to make some sweet rice for you . Just after

that I saw one cowherd girl standing before our kutir with all the ingredients

in her hands . "

 

As Sanatana heard this, tears began to glide down his cheeks. " The taste of this

sweet rice is from another world. Who else could have brought such ingredients

but Srimati Radharani Herself. Don't desire like this again. "

 

Sri Krishna Gifts a Small Replica of Govardhana

 

Everyday Sri Sanatana Gosvami would circumambulate the fourteen mile

circumference of Govardhana hill . As he became advanced in years this became

somewhat difficult, but he was not inclined to give up his vow . The merciful

Sri Krishna, however could understand that it was difficult for Sanatana, so He

came to him one day dressed as a cowherd boy.

 

" Baba! You have become old now, so I think it isn't necessary for you to

circumambulate Govardhana hill anymore. "

" No. Lala! This is my regular vow, my worship. "

" You can renounce this vow in your old age. "

" No Lala. One should never renounce his vows. "

" Baba. I have a very good idea, if you will accept it. "

" If it is acceptable surely I will accept it. "

 

Then Sri Krishna presented him a stone from Govardhana hill with the imprint of

His foot, a calf's foot print and the impressions of a stick and flute in it .

" Baba! This is a Govardhana sila. "

 

" What will I do with this? "

 

" You can circumambulate this sila, and that will be the same as circumambulating

Giri Govardhana. " Saying this much the cowherd boy disappeared. Then Sanatana

could understand that Giriraja Himself had presented His worshippable form to

him and from that day he would circumambulate this sila .

 

Madana Gopala Plays with Cowherd Boys.

 

Sometimes Sri Sanatan used to stay at Mahaban . One day he saw some cowherd boys

playing on the banks of the Yamuna, and amongst them was one boy whom he thought

was Madana Gopala.

 

" Is that my Madana Gopala playing there? No it must be one of the local village

boys. " Then on another day as he was passing by the Yamuna, there again he saw

that same boy and thought, " This time let me wait and see where he goes. "

Finally as the evening approached the boys finished playing and set out for

their respective homes. Following behind that particular boy, sure enough,

Sanatana saw him enter the temple. Then he could understand that Madana Gopala

goes every day to the banks of the Yamuna to play with the other boys .

 

Lord Siva Solves the Disturbance of Mosquitoes.

 

Sri Sanatana would sometimes stay at Cakleswar, near Govardhana . At that place

there were many mosquitoes, which was a great disturbance . When he was one day

being harassed by these insects, Sanatan remarked, " I won't stay here anymore.

It is impossible to concentrate on anything. Neither can I write, nor chant. "

 

That night, Lord Siva appeared in a dream to Sanatana and told him, " Sanatan!

Please continue your service here in a happy frame of mind. From tomorrow there

will be no more disturbance from mosquitoes. " After that there were no more

mosquitoes and Sanatana continued his bhajan free from disturbance .

 

Humility of Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami .

 

Wherever Sri Sanatan and Sri Rupa would go throughout Vraja, in all the various

villages the two brothers were much adored by the Brijabasis, who would feed

them milk and yogurt . They in turn would see the Brijabasis as Bhagavan Sri

Krishna's own family members and respect them in that way . Though it was not

their business to engage in ordinary gossip, with the Brijabasis they would

inquire about their well-being, e.g. how many sons and daughters they had and

who had been married where, what everyone's various names were, how their cows

were giving milk, how the bulls were working in the fields, how the harvest was

going on, who had fallen ill and if they were getting better or not.

 

In this way Rupa and Sanatan became the life of the villagers and the Brijabasis

also became the life of Sanatana Gosvami and Rupa Gosvami.

 

Sanatana Goswami left this world in the year 1558 CE. His samadhi (tomb) is

located next to the Madana-mohana temple in Vrindavana .

 

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya!!!

 

SriKrishnaDasa Rajeev .