[Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Fwd: The Great Sanatana Gosvami .

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Jai Sreekrishna Dear Abhilashji First of all let me confess that I just had a glance of the message. I have saved this in a seperate folder so that I can read it at leisure. Thank you very much for the message which gives lots of information on Vrindavan By the grace of Kannan, I had been to Vrindavan in 2004 . We were there for almost 10 days which is too short a period to see the whole of Vrindavan and Mathura. People stay for months together We had darshan at Madan Gopal temple. However, only now I realised that the tomb near the temple is of late Poojya Sanatana Goswami. We also had pradikshna of Govardhan Giri. Also we had pradikshana of Govardhan sila and we were told if we are not able to

complete the pradikshana of Govardhan Giri, pradikshana of Govardhan sila will give the same result. We only knew this sila was given by Krishna himself to a saint. Now I know the name of the saint as well . Visit to Vrindavan is still fresh in my mind . The, cows, peacocks, monkeys and other animals roaming about without any fear which reminds us the time Kanna lived there . If only I could be atleast a grass and Kanna placed his Padaravindam on me!!! I also understood that Radharani is given more importance in Vrindavan than Sreekrishna himself I still wants to go to Vrindavan again - for more days and let my Kannan make my hopes come true Humbly SyamalaAbhilash Nair <abhilash_ramachandran wrote: 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 YearsSanatana, 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 MahaprabhuSanatana 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 BenaresSanatana 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 VrindavanaSanatana 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 styleOne 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 GovardhanaEveryday 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 .

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