Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami (1495-1586) was the first Goswami to meet Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He was born in a small village in Shrikrishnapur, West Bengal, and belonged to a tremendously wealthy family of landowners. His family was already a millionaire at the time.

Story of Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami

There is a long Story of Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami. Born in the Vaishnavism, Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami was the only son of a wealthy landowner. Due to the mercy of Sir Nitya Ananda, he abandoned his beautiful wife and wealthy family. As a boy, he received the fellowship and blessings of Takara Haridasa. At the age of 15, he met Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. 

He rushed to Jagannath Puri and served Shri Gaura Raya and his siksha guru Svarupa Damodara Goswami for 16 years. Lord Gauranga gave his personal Govardhana Shila and gunja mala to Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.

Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami could not live after the Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left this world. So he jumped off the hills of Govardhana and came to Vrindavana to end his life. He talked about theShri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on the banks of Radha-kunda three hours a day. Shri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis greeted him lovingly. They persuaded him to enlighten all Vrajavasi Vaishnavas with Shriman Mahaprabhu’s Puri pastimes. 

Raghunatha Dasa played Radha Krishna Bhajana at Radha-kunda for 40 years. He lived a harsh life of pure dedication. His perfect example encourages all Gaudi Vaishnavas to develop pure love for Radha-Krishna. 

Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami’s daily Bhajan includes: Recite 64 rounds of Japan (100,000 holy names); doing Manashiseva with your own spiritual body.; worship of Govardhana Shila; 3 baths in Radakunda; provides Lord Krishna with a thousand obedience; edicate 2,000 to the Vaishnavism and accept them; take a break for 90 minutesand some days not at all; but remember that when the Lord’s eternal companion rests outwards, the Lord will continue to serve inwardly. He ate only one leaf cup (100 grams) of buttermilk every day. Throughout his life, he ate nothing to satisfy his senses. 

He took what he needed to keep his body and soul together. After Sir Chaitanya disappeared, Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami ate only fruit and milk. After Shri Sanatana Goswamipada left, he lived in a cup of buttermilk leaves for a day or two every day. 

When Shri Rupa Goswami entered Nitya-Lila Raghunatha gave up eating and drinking! He slowly burned in the fire of separation from the Lord and his beloved servants. Vrajavasis cried when he saw his weakened condition. 

Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami wrote three books: Stavavalli (contains Manah Shiksha, Vilapa-kusumanjali, and more), Mukta-charita, Dana Keli Chintamani. In Jaina Dharma, Shrila Thakura Bhaktivinoda said, “Raghunatha Dasa Goswami has shown an esoteric way to engage in the affectionate service of Shri Shri Rada Krishna.” For this reason, he was known as Prayojana Acharya, the most fulfilling teacher in his life. 

Shri Raghunatha Dasa Goswami has established the supremacy of Shrimati Radharani. In the intimate collection of prayers, Vilapa-kusumanjali states that the service of Shri Radharani is the highest achievement. Due to his separation from “The Queen of His Life,” he feels extreme impatient and despair and prays for the service of Radharani: 

“My life is worthless. To support me, give it up without your mercy. Not to mention Brindervan, even Krishna herself wouldn’t help me without you. O Shrimati Radharani, you are the only goal of my life. Please be merciful to me, mourning and crying. I press your lotus foot against my heart and seek your affectionate service.  

Shrila Raghunatha Dasa serves Shri Radha as Rati-Manjari in Shri Vrindavana-dhama. His samadhi is at Radha-kunda and the 64 Samadhis Area. 

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Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami took advantage of the situation.

The Guru is gone. Shrila Raghunatha Dasa took advantage of the situation. After giving proper Brahmin instructions, he left Puri. He knew that as soon as he noticed that his family was missing, he would send a man to look for him on the way to Puri. 

So he walked in the opposite direction all day long. He stopped by the cowherd’s house in the evening, took milk, and spent the night in the barn. Then he left for Puri in the morning. His guard heard that he had gone out with Guru’s family when he learned that Lagunas had not returned home. 

They went to the Guru’s house but couldn’t find Lagunas. Then they thought he must have gone to Puri and sent a man there to find him. They returned without finding him. In this way, Lagunas was able to escape skillfully. 

He went to Puri for 12 days and ate only 3 of them. I didn’t need food the other day. He was helped by the love of God overcharged in Bhakti. He had already heard that Mahaprabhu was in Gambira, Kasimi Shurabavan. 

He went there and fell into the courtyard from a homage to Mahaprabhu. Mukunda Datta mainly announced that “Shrila Raghunatha Dasa has come to Mahaprabhu.” said. He came here with great difficulty as he walked without food for days. After that, he will take care of himself. “

Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami

What does Raghunatha ask Mahaprabhu?

One day, Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami approached Mahaprabhu and said, “You were able to get me out of the house, but what is my greatest benefit now? In my own words, my Your heart will be satisfied. ” Mahaprabhu said: He is more qualified than I am, but if you want to hear something directly from me, say it briefly.

gramya-katha na sunibe, gramya-varta na kahibe

bhala na khaibe ara bhala na paribe

amani manada hanya krsna-nama sada labe

vraje radha-krsna seva manase karibe

“Don’t indulge in mundane gossip, don’t listen to mundane gossip. Do your best to avoid mundane things. Don’t eat good food. But eat anything normal food. Please do not dress extravagantly. Never seek a humble and respectful deal with Krishna, who has an attitude of respect for others without expecting to be respected by anyone. 

In this way, always take the name of Krishna. And, internally, try to serve Shri Shri Rada Krishna in Vrindavan. Spiritually in Vrindavan, serving Shri Shri Rada Krishnarira. 

Mahaprabhu told Lagunasa that this was the essence of his advice. Then he took Lagunasa’s hand again and offered it to Svarpa Damodara. He said: “I have taken care of Svarpa Damodara. He is the best spiritual teacher. 

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu thanked him for his abandonment and dedication and gave him his personal Shila and Gunja Mala necklaces from Govardhan Hill. These were valuable items I had personally with the Lord for over three years.

Devotion and austerities of Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami

The devotion and austerities of Raghunath Das best increased. He could chant for twenty- hours each day, napping for best one hour, and on occasion now no longer even that. He gave up meals and drinks, taking only a few buttermilk drops a day. 

His reputation as a mystic has become so considerable that Devotees from miles throughout could come to look him. With function humility, he could provide obeisances to every round thousand Devotees who day by day approached him. 

He additionally provided a thousand obeisances to the Lord and chanted at the least a hundred thousand Holy Names day by day. His extreme devotion and austerities attracted sages, students, and spiritualists from ways and wide. 

Raghunath Das Goswami, now 40 years of age, following the final commands of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, left for Vrindavana to help Rupa and Santana Goswami of their challenge to re-setup Vrindavana to its rightful role on the apex of all holy places. 

Raghunath Das Goswami stayed in Puri for 16 years, after which period Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left the world. His religious master, Swarup Damodar, additionally left his body two or three years later.

Conclusion

We hope this blog helped the readers to gain insights into the life of Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami. To know more, keep reading our blogs. Hare Krishna. Radha – Krishna.