Glories of Gopal Bhatt Goswami and Sri Ramchandra Kaviraja

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Topic: Glories of Gopal Bhatt Goswami and Sri Ramchandra Kaviraja Date:30^th January 2024 Speaker: HG Ishtadev Prabhu Guru Maharaj says: Istadev, please tell about the score of All India Padayatra for book distribution and also about the donors. It is about 25000 which acharya prabhuji was telling me. Tell about Utkal Banga padayatra’s score also. Please start the japa talk. HG Ishtadev Prabhu says: Maharaj I will let them know. I offer my humble obeisances at your divine lotus feet. Everyday is a pious day when you are with us. Thank you so much Guru Maharaj. You are blessing everyone although but today I feel happy to be given the opportunity to serve. I want to touch your feet and take your blessing before starting. Srī Guru Praṇāma oḿ ajñāna-timirāndhasyajñānāñjana-śalākayā cakṣurunmīlitaḿ yenatasmaiśrī-guravenamaḥ TRANSLATION I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance, with the torchlight of knowledge. SrīRūpaPraṇāma śrī-caitanya-mano-'bhīṣṭaḿ sthāpitaḿ yenabhū-tale svayaḿ rūpaḥ kadāmahyaḿ dadātisva-padāntikam  TRANSLATION When will SrīlaRūpaGosvāmīPrabhupāda, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet? vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eve ca patitanampavanebhyovaisnavebhyonamonamah jai sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaitagadadharasrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda hare krsna hare krsna, krsnakrsna hare hare harerama hare rama, ramarama hare hare. Hari HarayeNamah (by Narottama Das Thakur) eichaygosāijabebrajekoilābās rādhā-kṛṣṇa-nitya-līlākorilā- (6)  tāderacaraṇa-sebi-bhakta-sańebās janamejaname hoy eiabhilāṣ- (7) Translation (6) I am the servant of that person who is a servant of these six Gosvamis. The dust of their lotus feet is myfive kinds of foodstuffs. (7) This is my desire: that birth after birth I may live with those devotees who serve the lotus feet of thesesix Gosvamis. Our acharyas have told importance about the six goswamis. Yadi Gaura Na Hoito by Vasudeva Ghosa (yadi) gauranāhoito, tabe ki hoito, kemanedharita de? rādhāramahimā, prema-rasa-sīmā, jagatejānātake (1) Translation If Lord Gaura had not appeared as the yuga-avatara in this age of Kali, then what would have become of us? How could we have tolerated living? Who in this universe would have ever learned about the topmost limits of loving mellows that comprise the glory of Sri Radha? If Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would have not appeared then who would told us about the Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the nectarian flow of the holynames? Acharyas say: Nitai Guna Mani by Locan Das Thakur ābaddhakaruṇā-sindhunitāikāṭiyāmuhān ghareghare bule prema-amiyārbān (4) Translation: The ocean of mercy had formerly been sealed tight, but Nitai cut a channel in its boundary to allow the great flooding waves of nectareanprema to splash from house to house. Just like a dam on the river which can stop the flow of water or cause floods as well. Gaur Nitai have cut down thisloving mellows in which we are drowned, so we should consider ourselves very fortunate. The holynames which we are chanting is the mercy of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Who would have given this love to us?So it is GauranagaMahaprabhu who can us the access to holyname.So our Goswamis also worked very hard to distribute this prema. śrī-caitanya-mano-'bhīṣṭaṁsthāpitaṁyenabhū-tale svayaṁrūpaḥkadāmahyaṁdadātisva-padāntikam Translation When will ŚrīlaRūpaGosvāmīPrabhupāda, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet? Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s inner desires were known by Rupa and Santana Goswamis. Rupa Goswami is the leading Goswami in Vrindavan. Many other goswamis also assisted him and one of them is Srila Gopal Bhatt Goswami. Tomorrow is his appearance day and Sri Rama Chandra Goswami’s disappearance day is also tomorrow. How to speak the glories of such Vaishnavas in such a short span of time? He is great acharya for whom the Lord appeared himself from a stone. I remember the story of Narada Muni when he was four years old and he served the sadhus with his mother and gained Krsna prem in Chaturmaas. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu first went to Puri and then he  reachedto Sri Rangam just a day before Chaturmaas. The Ranganath deity is present there. This Deity was given to Brahma ji by Lord himself. Brahama ji is the first disciple and acharya of our Parampara. He has a desire to worship the Visnu deity which he saw in Vaikuntha. In South India Lord is worshipped in a sleeping state. Visnu’s devotees are Vaishnaas, we are Gaudiya Vaishnavas or Karshinaye Dasya bhakti is given more importance in South India. Our acharyas are also from Sri Sampradaya. This deity was worshipped by Brahma ji himself. Then Brahma ji gave this deity in the dynasty of Rama ji. It was also worshipped by Sri Rama himself This deity was worshipped in Ayodhya.So when Vibhishana came with Sri Rama to Ayodhya he was attracted to this deity and he wanted to take them with him.Ram ji was thankful to everyone for their contribution in conquering Lanka and for that he was rewarding everyone. Everyone returned to forest but Hanuman ji decided to stay with Sri Rama. He is always ready to serve Lord. SoHanuman ji wanted to two things which was the two Charan padukas. He is always sitting in the feet of Lord Rama. Vibhishan wanted this deity as gift from Sri Rama and I will worship them.So Ram ji thought that is the deity of Brahma ji, how can it go to Lanka which was once ruled by a demon?SoSri Rama said this deity will stay whereever it stops. So Vibhishan stopped at the basin of Kaveri river for bathing. Then an island was formed there and he placed the deity there. After this, when Vibhishan wanted to carry them to Lanka after bathing, then the deity stayed there and didn’t move. So, after this pastime, Vibhishan used to come daily to serve him. The deities said that you will have my darshans from Lankaitself  as he was very old that’s why this temple is  so special as it is facing south which is not usually the norm. This is very interesting as it is against Vastu shastra. But Lord can do anything for his devotees. “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” Killing of animals and non-violence is the highest dharma. But in Bhagavad Gita Krsna asks Arjun to fight. So whatever Lord says we have to follow that. The Lord wanted to give his darshans to Vibhishan and I can give my blessings to him.So the worshippers of this pure deity were Sri Venkata Bhatt,  Sundar Bhatt and Tirumala Bhatt. One of their sons was Gopal Bhatt Goswami.When  ChaitanyaMahaprabhu saw this deity he started dancing. He has golden complexion and in south everyone is of dark complexion and everyone was amazed to see him. He chanted: hare krsna hare krsna, krsnakrsna hare hare harerama hare rama, ramarama hare hare. I remember that when Guru Maharaj  wasin Meenakshi Madurai temple, that everything is wonderful here except that there is no HarinaamSankirtan. So, last year in Chennai kirtan mela, I got association of Guru Maharaj. But Guru Maharaj said that know I am happy and communicated the same to all the devotees. Usually in south, deity worship is the most important kind of Navada bhakti. But by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s and Srila Prabhupada’s mercyGaudiyaVaishanasare increasing so kirtan is also expanding. So Chaitanya Mahaprabhuwas dancing and at that timeaarati was going on. So, Venkat Bhatt, the head pujari also came to see him. Sometimes he would see the Lord and sometimes he would perform the aarati. When it got over,he thought that the Lord has appeared himself. Then he invited him to his house and offered his obesiances. Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to his home. His wife washed Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s feet and his Charanamrita was distributed to all. A small boy drank this and became of golden complexion. Earlier he was of dark complexion. Venkata Bhatt said that since you a Sannayasi, you should stay at one place for Chaturmaas as travelling is prohibited for you. This will be our great fortune. Just like Narada Muni,  GopalBhatt Goswami also got the benediction of the Lord. He appeared in 1503. He was twelve years old and he got the mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He was always there with Lord. His uncle wasPrabhlanand Saraswati. He made him studied various shastras. He had a great association of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And both Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Gopal Bhatt loved each other. There is no such strict timings of school of kids at that time. In south giving name of Gopal is difficultbecause usually Vishnu is worshipped over here. You can read this in Chaitanya Charitamrita.In Vraj Mandal Parikrama whenBelvan comes where Laxmiji stays and meditates upon the Lord which is difficult to understand as she is the worshipper of Lord Visnu, still she wants to attain Krsna. Then Guru Maharaj and HH Radha Raman Maharaj  tells about the story of Venkat Bhatt of why is he meditating on Lord. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left after four months and he fainted. Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lifted him and said that he will see him again in Vrindavan soon.  He said – “You worship your parents. After they leave their bodies, then you come to Vrindavan”. So after he reached Vrindavan, Rupa Goswami sent a letter to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in which he told that  GopalBhatt Goswami  came. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu became very happy to hear this and said that you will get my deity form soon. He gave his thread,kopin and his angavastra to him and gave him a seat to perform kirtan. It is shown in Vrindavan in Radha Raman temple sometimes. Gopal Bhatt Goswami worshipped Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as he was from a Brahman Family. He was respected by every Vaishnava. When Rupa Goswami was writing Hari Bhakti Vilas, the glories of deity worship is described nicely. It is of very high standard. Then for served for many years. Once on his way to Haridwar, he stopped atSaharanpur and went to have prasadam over there. The family didn’t have a son who was serving them. He blessed them with a son. The family told him that the son which will born will be always engaged in his service.Then he went to Haridwar and finally reached to Gangadi river and he found Shaligram who accepted his Tulasi. To have Tulasi, Lord comesto the surface. He got twelve Shaligram shilas there. He tied them around his neck and worshipped him all life long. On NrishmaChatudashi, one merchant came and he was giving dresses for deities. Gopal Bhatt Goswami was very unhappy and said that you appeared from pillar for Prahalad but I have nothing to offerto  you as you are in this Shaligram form. SoSri Radha Raman Lal appeared in the morning from those shilas. From Shaligram in Gandagi river Radha raman appeared.

ŚB 1.9.33

tri-bhuvana-kamanaṁtamāla-varṇaṁ ravi-kara-gaura-vara-ambaraṁdadhāne vapuralaka-kulāvṛtānanābjaṁ vijaya-sakheratirastu me ’navadyā  Translation

ŚrīKṛṣṇa is the intimate friend of Arjuna. He has appeared on this earth in His transcendental body, which resembles the bluish color of the tamāla tree. His body attracts everyone in the three planetary systems [upper, middle and lower]. May His glittering yellow dress and His lotus face, covered with paintings of sandalwood pulp, be the object of my attraction, and may I not desire fruitive results.

His chest is like Govind ji , his lotus feet is like Madan Mohan ji and his face his like Gopinath ji. He is the only deity pf Vrindavan and he is very beautiful. Gopal Bhatt Goswami named him as Radha Raman as Radharani’s deity was not there. So this news spread in Vraja like a wildfire and many devotees come to take his darshans everyday. Then one day that son who appeared in Saharanpur came and was asked to meet Gopal Bhatt Goswami. Then when he saw him and asked- “From where did you come?” Then he told that I am from the same brahaman family which he blessed. Then Gopal Bhatt Goswami gave him the service of worshipping Radha Raman. So, by Gopal Bhatt Goswami’s mercy we are getting the darshans of Radha raman. From Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy we got Gopal Bhatt Goswami and from his mercy we got Radha Raman ji. So this our fortune that we are able to hear this pastimes in Zoom mandir. Rama Chandra goswami’s disappearance is tomorrow. In Bhakti Ratnakar 1/267-69 shloka it is written: खण्डवासी चिरंजीव सेन एक हय । ताँहार पत्नीर नाम सुनन्दा कहाय ॥ दुइ पुत्र हइल तार परम गुणवान । ज्येष्ठ रामचन्द्र, कनिष्ठ गोविन्द अभिधान ॥ श्रीनिवासेर शिष्य रामचन्द्र कविराज । करुणा मंजरी राम चन्द्रेर सिद्धनाम ॥” श्रीगौड़ीय वैष्णव अभिधान में उद्धृत वचन एई देख विवाहेर एतेक उत्साह । अर्थ व्यय करि किने मायार कलह ॥ गले फाँस दिल माया ताहा न बुझिया । मंगल आचरे देख कौतुक करिया ॥ अमंगले शुभज्ञान सदाइ करिया । उत्सव करे लोक कृतार्थ मानिया ॥ श्रीपरमानन्द भट्टाचार्य प्रेमराशि । श्रीजीव गोस्वामी आदि वृन्दावन वासी ॥ सबे ताँर’ कृत काव्य शुनि ताँर मुखे । कविराज ख्याति सबे दिल महासुखे ॥ रामचन्द्र कविराज सर्वगुणमय । याँर’ अभिन्नात्मा नरोत्तम महाशय ॥ The residents of Srikhandwhich  nearKatwa. Chiranjeev Seth has two sons: Govind Kaviraj and Sri Rama Chandra Kaviraj. Rama Chandra was a very poetic person. He has a son and brother. Bhajahu re mann song was written by the younger brother Govind Kaviraj. He was a Devi Bhakt from his childhood and then he became a great Vaishnava later on because of his elder brother. In the Narottama Das Thakur’s song it is said- Ram chandrasanga mange, Narottama Das. Kaviraj was disciple of Srinivas Acharya. He is Karuna Manjiri. In Katwa, still the samadhi of Srinivas Acharya is there and a railway line passes nearby. Once after his marriage he was going in a palanquin. Srinivas Acharya was doing Bhagavad Katha nearby. Srinivas Acharya then passed a comment: See how much they are excited for wedding! And after spending money they will be inviting fights.  I am not saying this. Srinivas Acharya is saying this. This is like they are getting  trapped in Maya. But they don’t know this is not a good thing. Srinivas Acharya was saying these things to his disciples. Then Rama Chandra Kaviraj heard this and feel at this feet. When Jiva Goswami heard Rama Chandra Kaviraj’s song, he appreciated it. He gave him the title of Kaviraj. Narottama das thakur respects him a lot. That’s why we sing- Rama Chandra Sanga Mange Narottama Das. Rama Chandra das saw a pandit Rupanarayan who was Digvijayi and he went to defeat Narottama das thakur. In Kumarpur market he was selling mud pots and paan. When his disciples came, the disciples of Rupa Narayana and Rama Chandra Kaviraj bargained in Sanskrit. Rupa Narayan’s disciples gave a report about it to him and then he cameto know that he is Narottama das thakur’s beloved. Rama Chandra Kaviraj was great poet indeed. Please forgive me for my offenses. We don’t know the exact figure but our Padayatra distributed 25,000 Bhagavad Gita were distributed and in Utkal banga 22,000 Bhagavad Gitas were distributed. In Maharastra padayatra by HG Damodar Lila prabhu distributed 10,000 Bhagavad Gitas. shastra prabhu distributed 5000 Bhagavad Gitas and UP padayatra also did the same and Tamil padayatra also did the same. This is our work! Jay Sri Rama. In every home there should be Bhagavad Gita and holynames. I am grateful to all of you for kind support. We will end the session now. HG Jayabhadramataji will share the report later on this later on.  

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