2024.10.15 (Vrindavan Today News): Today marks the disappearance day (Tirobhava Tithi) of three eminent Gaudiya Vaishnava saints—Sri Raghunath Bhatt Goswami, Sri Raghunath Das Goswami, and Sri Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami.
Sri Raghunath Bhatt Goswami: A Life of Service and Devotion
Sri Raghunath Bhatt Goswami was the son of Tapan Mishra, and even in his childhood, he served Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with great devotion. When he expressed his desire to reside in the holy land of Vrindavan, Mahaprabhu instructed him to first serve his parents, who were not only his caregivers but also great Vaishnavas themselves. Mahaprabhu emphasized that the service to one’s parents is paramount, especially when they are true devotees of the Lord.
During his time with Mahaprabhu in Nilachal (Puri), Raghunath Bhatt would invite the Lord to his home and prepare exquisite meals for Him. Known for his culinary skills, he would cook various delicious dishes, and Mahaprabhu would relish them with great satisfaction, tasting the love and devotion imbued in each offering.
Raghunath Bhatt was also blessed with an exceptional voice. When he recited the Bhagavatam, he did so in such a melodious tone, with various ragas, that devotees were deeply drawn to him and mesmerized by his devotion.
Sri Raghunath Das Goswami: The Embodiment of Renunciation
Raghunath Das Goswami is celebrated for his intense renunciation and dedication to the service of Sri Radha-Krishna. It was during Mahaprabhu’s visit to Aritha Gram, where He revealed the sacred sites of Radha Kund and Shyam Kund, that Raghunath Das envisioned cleaning the kunds and beautifying them. However, he immediately chastised himself for having such material desires. Soon after, a wealthy devotee, who had traveled to Badrinath to offer a donation, was divinely instructed by Lord Badri Narayan to use the money for the cleaning and restoration of Radha Kund and Shyam Kund under the guidance of Raghunath Das.
With his humble leadership, the sacred ponds were purified, and their surroundings restored, though Shyam Kund was left slightly asymmetrical as per the divine will—revealed in a dream to Raghunath Das, where Yudhisthira Maharaj told him that the Pandavas resided as trees along the banks of the kund.
Raghunath Das Goswami is also remembered for his unparalleled austerities. He offered a thousand prostrations to the Lord daily and two thousand to the Vaishnavas, living on nothing but buttermilk—just a mere handful daily. Despite old age and a weakened body, he remained unwavering in his practice of offering full prostrations, and it was only with great reluctance that he allowed others to assist him when he could no longer rise on his own.
Sri Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami: The Chronicler of Divine Leelas
Sri Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami holds a distinguished place in the Vaishnava tradition as the author of the Chaitanya Charitamrita, a masterpiece that chronicles the life and teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
As the devotees of Vrindavan yearned to hear about Mahaprabhu’s final pastimes, they implored Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami to document these divine leelas. Understanding the gravity of such a task, Kaviraj Goswami sought permission from his beloved deity, Sri Madan Gopal. Remarkably, the Lord’s garland fell from His neck—a sign of divine approval witnessed by all the Vaishnavas present. The temple’s head priest then reverently placed the garland around Kaviraj Goswami’s neck, confirming the Lord’s consent. Thus, blessed by both the devotees and the Lord, Sri Krishnadas Kaviraj began his sacred composition, which would become known as Chaitanya Charitamrita.
This sacred text, considered one of the finest spiritual biographies, not only captures the essence of Mahaprabhu’s teachings but also stands as a testimony to Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami’s devotion and literary genius. The original manuscript, handwritten by the saint himself, is still preserved at the Badi Surma Kunja in Vrindavan.
In celebrating the Tirobhava Tithi of these revered saints, we honor their unparalleled dedication to the service of the Lord and the profound influence they continue to have on the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.
