November 22nd, 2007
Nov. 23 is the disappearance day of Srila Bhugarbha Goswami and Srila Kasisvara Pandita…
SRILA BHUGARBHA GOSWAMI
Just as there is very little mentioned in the scriptures about the life of arala Lokanatha Goswami, in the same way, there is little written about his dear friend arala Bhugarbha Goswami. arala Lokanatha and ara Bhugarbha Goswami were of one heart and mind. On the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu they went to live in Vrndavana. Bhugarbha Goswami was a disciple of Gadadhara Pandita. Among his disciples were ara Govindadev’s pajara Caitanya dasa, as well as Mukundananda Cakravarta, Prema Krsnadasa and others.
Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami writes: The eleventh branch of Gadadhara Goswami was Bhugarbha Goswami and the twelfth was Bhagavata dasa. Both of them went to Vrndavana and resided there for life.” ara Kavikaraapura writes in his Gaura-gaaodesa-dipika that Bhugarbha Goswami was formerly the gopi named Prema Manjari in Vrndavana. While in Vrndavana, Bhugarbha Goswami passed away and entered into the unmanifest pastimes of the Lord on the fourteenth day of the full moon in the month of Kartika. Lokanatha Goswami and Bhugarbha Goswami lived together in Vrndavana as one.
Srila Narahari Cakravarta Thakura writes about them in his Bhakti-ratnakara: “Bhugarbha Goswami and Lokanatha Goswami were world-preachers; they were so close and affectionate to one another that they were like one body.”
In Vrndavana, Bhugarbha Goswami and Lokanatha Goswami were regarded as among the principle Goswamis, as they were senior by age and experience to many. The foremost among the subsequent followers of Rapa Goswami, Narottama dasa ahakura, writes about Bhugarbha Goswami, with whom he had much affectionate association: O Hari! Why am I addicted to this abominable path of karma? I didn’t worship Radha-Krsaa in Vraja even one iota, nor could I understand the position of spontaneous devotion-raga-marga. Svarupa Damodara, Sanatana Goswami, Raghunatha Bhatta, Raghunatha dasa, Gopala Bhatta Goswami, Bhugarbha Goswami, Jiva Goswami, and Lokanatha Goswami-I never offered a drop of service to their lotus feet. How then shall I attain the goal of life? Krsnadasa Kaviraja is among the most exalted rasika-bhaktas, devotees whose sole interest is in relishing the mellows of devotion to Radha-Govinda and Mahaprabhu. He compiled the Caitanya-caritamrta which describes the pastimes of ara Caitanya and the Govinda-lilamrta, describing the pastimes of Radha-Krsna. Hearing the pastimes of Gaura-Govinda would melt even stone, but it had no effect on my consciousness. Not only have I failed to take advantage of the association of all these great souls, but I have also neglected their associates and followers. What a sad story my life has become. My life and birth are all useless.
Shame on me. Alas, alas. Thus laments Narottama das
It is said that to avoid material distractions Bhugarbha would perform his bhajana underground. Thus he received the name Bhugarbha (bhu means earth, garbha means cave, womb, hidden place). His samadhi (pictured below) stands near Sri Rupa Goswami’s in the Radha Damodara temple courtyard.
SRI KASISVARA GOSWAMI
Kasisvara Gosvami, in pursuance of the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, established the Deity of Sri Gaura Govinda within the temple of Sri Sri Radha Govinda in Vrindavan.
When Srila Rupa Gosvami discovered the Deity of Sri Govinda within the hill at Gomatila he immediately sent word to Mahaprabhu, Who was in Puri at the time. Mahaprabhu then requested Kasisvara to go to Vrindavan to assist in the worship of Sri Govinda.
Kasisvara replied, “Prabhu, to give up Your association will cause my heart to split in two. Therefore please consider how I can honour Your request without giving up my life at the same time.”
Sri Gaurahari could understand the heart of Kasisvara. He solved the problem by giving a Deity of Himself to Kasisvara. Then He sat down with that Deity to take His meal. Kasisvara was in complete ecstasy to see this. Prabhu told him that the name of this Deity is Sri Gaura Govinda. [Bhakti
Ratna, 2nd Taranga]
Ratna, 2nd Taranga]
Kasisvara brought this Deity of Sri Gaura Govinda and installed Him to the right of Sri Govinda. This Deity is still present with Sri Govinda at His present residence in Jaipur (pictured below). The disciple of Kasisvara Gosai, Govinda Gosai, was the very dear servant (pujari) of Sri Govinda. [CC Adi 8.66]
There is a very ancient temple in Catara, near Ballabhapur which is reputed to be the temple founded by Kasisvara Gosvami. Nearby is the temple of Sri Sri Radha Ballabhajiu, founded by Kasisvara’s nephew, Sri Rudraram Pandit. Kamalakar Piplai’s temple of Lord Jagannath is also very close by. All three of these temples are within a few minutes of the Sri Rampur railway station near Calcutta.
Kasisvara Gosvami was known in Vraja as the sakhi called Sasi Rekha. (Gaura Gannodesa Dipika 166)
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