- By Shri Shyam Charan Chaturvedi
2025.08.30 (Vrindavan Today News): Shri Radha Charan Das ji Maharaj, was a prominent Rasik saint of Vrindavan in the recent times. He was the mahant of Shri Tatiasthan and was venerated by the Brajwasi community. Today is his disappearance day on Bhadra Shukla Dashami.
His passing away (mahal-gaman) is not an end, but a divine entrance into the eternal palace of Radha-Krishna’s nikunja-lilas. For the rasikas, it is a moment of remembrance, longing, and gratitude, beholding the wondrous dance of divine love that Swami Ji Maharaj revealed before merging into eternity.
“Mahal kau darwajau aayo, ari ho!”
— “The doorway of the palace has arrived!”
Elaboration & Meaning:
Just as the Mahali (eternal attendants of Shri Radha-Krishna) descend from the celestial palace to nourish the rasikas (devotees absorbed in divine love), they finally return to the palaces once their līlā (divine pastime) in this world is completed. Similarly, our revered Guru, His Holiness Swami Radha Charan Das Ji Maharaj, being the spiritual successor in the glorious line of Rasika-Śiromaṇi (crest jewel among rasika saints) Shri Swami Haridas Ji Maharaj, on the eve of the great festival, by his own divine will, withdrew from his manifest pastimes and entered into the eternal nikunjas (divine bowers) of Shri Vrindavan.
At that blessed moment, in a mood of sweetness, he himself uttered:
“Come, come! The doors of the palace have come before me.”
This was not mere speech, but a revelation of his departure from this mortal plane into the eternal abode. For rasika saints, the very act of departing this world is not sorrow, but rather a continuation of their divine play—returning to the eternal service of Shri Radha-Krishna in the confidential nikunjas.
“Kahat-kahat Shri Radha Charan ju sundar nritya dikhayo.”
— “While speaking thus, Shri Gurudeva revealed a beautiful dance.”
Elaboration & Meaning:
As he spoke of the palace-entrance, Shri Gurudev Ji Maharaj, absorbed in divine ecstasy, performed a wondrous and graceful dance. That sacred place at once became a Ras-bhumi—a field of transcendental rasa (divine bliss).
Through his movements, the rasikas perceived the very vision of Shri Radharani’s lotus-feet, gently moving in the rhythm of “thumak-thumak, thei-thei”. It was as if Radha Herself, with all Her sweetness, had descended to bless the assembly with nectarean rasa. The devotees were thus immersed in ineffable bliss, tasting the ambrosia of madhurya-prema (sweet divine love).
“Shri Naval Das ati vyakul prem prasang sunayo.”
— “Shri Naval Sakhi and others, in great anguish, recalled the episodes of love.”
Elaboration & Meaning:
When the vision of Shri Radha’s divine lotus feet disappeared from the ras-bhumi, the devotees—just like the sakhis in the original Vraja pastimes—were overcome with separation (viraha). Among them, Shri Naval Sakhi and the companions, unable to bear the pangs of that separation, began recalling again and again the episodes of His love-filled revelations. The atmosphere became surcharged with remembrance, longing, and divine emotion.
Aise Swami Shiromani aaye, Das Gopal prem samayo ॥
Elaboration & Meaning:
Thus, such a crown jewel among Swamis, the life-giving elixir for all rasikas, has appeared in this earthly realm in the very form of Shri Swami Haridas Ji himself — to immerse the hearts of devotees in divine love. His heart overflows with the love of rasikas, with the affection of Gori-Bhori Kishori (Shri Radha Ji) and her sakhis. Bestowing his mercy, he descended to this world, and thereafter entered the palace.
Tribute
Such is the glory of our Swami Ji Maharaj—
The one who is verily the life-breath of the rasikas,
The Sanjivani herb that revives the hearts steeped in love.
Just as Shri Swami Haridas Ji Maharaj once descended to fill the world with the wealth of rasa, in the same way, Swami Radha Charan Das Ji Maharaj incarnated on this earth only to immerse the hearts of devotees in the love of Shri Radha-Krishna and their sakhis.
His heart carried the boundless love of the rasikas, the tenderness of Gauri (Radha), the sweetness of Bhori Kishori, and the intimacy of the sakhis. To shower such grace, he manifested in this world, and having completed his divine pastimes, finally entered the eternal palaces—the nikunjas—where he continues to shine eternally in seva (loving service).
