Sri Rupa e Sri Sanatana Gosvamis
(trecho da Parte 3 do livro Shri Navadvip-dham Parikrama de Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja)
Os irmãos, Shri Rupa e Shri Sanatana, são associados íntimos de Shriman Mahaprabhu. Nos passatempos de Krishna, Shri Sanatana Gosvami era Lavanga Manjari e Shri Rupa Gosvami era Shri Rupa Manjari. Os quatro Kumaras também estão presentes em Shri Sanatana Gosvami.
Shri Rupa, Shri Sanatana e seu irmão mais novo, Anupama, eram brahmanas Yajurvediya Bharadvaja Gotriya, cujos antepassados vieram de Karnataka, sul da Índia. O nome anterior de Shri Sanatana Gosvami era Amara e o nome de Shri Rupa Gosvami era Santosha. Desde a infância eles demonstraram um intelecto aguçado e estudaram todos os shastras da joia da coroa dos professores de Shri Navadvipa, Shri Vidya-vacaspati. O interesse especial deles era o Shrimad-Bhagavatam.
Na juventude, os três irmãos tornaram-se ministros reais no reino de Hussain Shah, o imperador de Gauda. Ele nomeou Shri Sanatana Gosvami como seu primeiro-ministro e Shri Rupa Gosvami como seu secretário particular, dando-lhes os títulos de "Sakara Mallika" e "Dabhira Khasa". Eles supervisionavam todos os assuntos reais com tanta competência que o imperador se tornou completamente dependente deles.Quando Shriman Mahaprabhu chegou a Ramakeli sob o pretexto de ir a Vrindavana, tanto Rupa quanto Sanatana despiram suas vestes reais. Aceitando trajes muito humildes, vieram receber darshana aos pés de lótus de Mahaprabhu; assim, suas vidas alcançaram o sucesso completo. Simplesmente por verem Mahaprabhu, sua renúncia e apego já aperfeiçoados a Bhagavan transbordaram espontaneamente. Agora, suas mentes e corações estavam completamente desapegados dos deveres reais, e eles passavam o tempo estudando o Srimad-Bhagavatam e adorando o Senhor Supremo.Mais tarde, em outra peregrinação, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu foi a Vrindavana. Quando Sri Rupa Gosvami recebeu a notícia, retirou-se de seus deveres reais e seguiu para lá, acompanhado de seu irmão mais novo, Anupama. Quando chegaram, Sriman Mahaprabhu já havia deixado Vrindavana para retornar a Puri. No caminho, chegou a Prayaga e foi lá que encontrou novamente Sri Rupa Gosvami e Anupama. Mahaprabhu permaneceu com Rupa Gosvami em Prayaga por dez dias, instruindo-o sobre as verdades conclusivas de bhakti-rasa e prema. Ele também concedeu a Rupa Gosvami o poder de manifestar os lugares sagrados perdidos de Vrindavana e de compor literatura devocional.Mahaprabhu então seguiu para Kashi. Sri Sanatana Gosvami, agora indiferente aos seus deveres reais, desejou abandonar essa vida materialista. No entanto, o Imperador se opôs à sua proposta e o aprisionou. Sanatana Gosvami então recebeu uma mensagem misteriosa de Sri Rupa Gosvami e, como resultado da compreensão dessa mensagem, escapou com sucesso. Ele foi para Kashi, onde se encontrou com Sriman Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu permaneceu com Sanatana Gosvami em Kashi por algum tempo, dando-lhe instruções lúcidas sobre jiva-tattva, bhagavad-tattva, maya-tattva e sambandha-tattva. Ele explicou que a execução do serviço devocional (bhakti) é abhidheya-tattva e que o amor puro a Deus (krishna-prema) é prayojana-tattva. Dando-lhe esse poder, Mahaprabhu ordenou que fosse a Vrindavana e manifestasse os lugares sagrados perdidos ali, compusesse literatura devocional e estabelecesse a adoração às antigas divindades de Vrindavana. Assim fortalecido, Shri Sanatana Gosvami realizou o desejo interior de Shriman Mahaprabhu, manifestando os lugares sagrados perdidos de Vrindavana, estabelecendo o serviço de Shri Madana-mohana e compilando o Hari-bhakti-vilasa, o Brihad-bhagavatamritam e um comentário sobre o Décimo Canto do Srimad-Bhagavatam.Shrila Rupa Gosvami satisfez o desejo interior de Shriman Mahaprabhu das seguintes maneiras. Ele manifestou o serviço a Shri Radha-Govindadeva e redescobriu outros lugares sagrados perdidos de Vrindavana. Em particular, ele compilou literatura devocional de valor inestimável, como Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Ujjvala-nilamani, Lalita-madhava, Vidagdha-madhava, Laghu-bhagavatamritam, Stava-mala, Uddhava-sandesha, Hamsa-duta, Dana-keli-kaumudi e Radha-krishna-ganoddesha-dipika. A Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya está eternamente em dívida com essas duas grandes personalidades.--- (Fim do trecho da Parte 3 do livro Shri Navadvip-dham Parikrama de Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja)
vairagya-yug-bhakti-rasam prayatnair
apayayan mam anabhipsum andham
kapambudhir yah para-duhkha-duhkhi
sanatanas tam prabhum asrayami
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami glorificou Sanatana Gosvami da seguinte forma em seu Vilapa Kusumanjali (6): "Eu não estava disposto a beber o néctar do serviço devocional possuído pela renúncia, mas Sanatana Gosvami, por sua misericórdia sem causa, me fez bebê-lo, embora eu não fosse capaz. Portanto, ele é um oceano de misericórdia. Ele é muito compassivo com almas caídas como eu, e, portanto, é meu dever oferecer minhas respeitosas reverências a seus pés de lótus e me abrigar nele."A posição transcendental de Sanatana Gosvami é glorificada no Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika de Sri Kavi Karnapura (181):sa rupa-manjari-presiha
purasid rati-manjari
socyate nama-bhedena
lavanga-manjari budhaih
"O amigo mais próximo de Rupa Manjari, conhecido pelos nomes Rati-Manjari e Lavanga Manjari, aparecia nos passatempos de Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu como Sri Sanatana Gosvami, que era considerado uma extensão pessoal do corpo de Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu."A contribuição literária de Sanatana Gosvami para a Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya tem paralelo apenas com Rupa e Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami. As escrituras mais importantes que ele compilou são o Hari-bhakti-Vilasa, o Brihad-Bhagavatamrita, seu comentário Dasama-Tippani sobre o Srimad-Bhagvatam, também conhecido como Brihad-Vaishanva-Toshani, e o Dashama-charita.Sri Jiva Gosvami faz o seguinte relato da linhagem ancestral de seu tio, Sanatana Gosvami, na conclusão de seu Laghu-Vaishnava-Toshani, um comentário sobre o Bhagavata:Sarvajna era um brâmane Yajur Vedik descendente da dinastia do sábio Bharadvaja Muni e, como tal, o brâmane mais respeitável de Karnataka. Tornou-se rei da região em 1381 d.C. Era tão erudito que era conhecido como "Jagad-guru", ou mestre do mundo. Seu filho era Aniruddha, que se tornou rei em 1416 d.C. Aniruddha teve duas rainhas e dois filhos, Rupeshvara e Harihara. Rupeshvara era especialista em todos os ramos do shastra sagrado. Seu irmão Harihara era especialista nas escrituras relativas à política real e também era altamente educado. Rupeshvara deixou Karnataka para Paurastya com sua esposa. Ele era versado em muitos ramos do conhecimento. Lá, tornou-se amigo do rei, Raja Sri Shekhareshvar. O filho de Rupeshvara era Padmanabha, um grande pandit nas escrituras védicas. Padmanabha estabeleceu-se em Navahatta (Naihatti), às margens do Ganges, em Bengala. Teve oito filhas e cinco filhos. Todos os seus filhos eram versados nas escrituras. Os nomes de seus filhos eram Purushottama, Jagannatha, Narayana, Murari e Mukundadeva. Seu filho mais novo, Mukunda, mudou-se para Fateyabada, perto de Jessore, em Bakla Chandradwip Paragana. O filho de Sri Mukunda Deva era Sri Kumara Deva. Ele teve muitos filhos. Entre eles estavam Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana e Sri Anupama ou Vallabha. Todos eram grandes devotos do Senhor, do Mahabhagavata.Sri Sanatana Gosvami nasceu em 1488. Rupa Gosvami nasceu em 1493. Rupa e Vallabha (Anupama) foram educados em uma aldeia chamada Sakurma, perto da capital de Gauda (Bengala), e moravam na casa de seu tio materno quando seu pai faleceu. Sanatana era o filho mais velho de Kumaradeva. Rupa era seu segundo filho. Vallabha era seu filho mais novo. Jiva era o único filho de Vallabha. Sanatana e Rupa eram os nomes dados por Chaitanya Mahaprabhu aos dois irmãos quando mais tarde se tornaram seus discípulos. Seus nomes anteriores são desconhecidos. Alguns dizem que seus nomes originais eram Amara e Santosha, respectivamente.O governante de Bengala, Hussain Xá, ouviu de homens piedosos sobre as qualificações de Rupa e Sanatana. Ao ouvir suas glórias, o Xá quis nomeá-los para cargos em seu regime. Por medo do rei Yavana, eles foram forçados a aceitar.Naquela época, não era incomum que hindus aceitassem cargos no governo do rei muçulmano. Entre os hindus que aceitaram cargos no governo do Xá, havia muitos grandes devotos. Entre eles estava Keshava Vasu Khan, que serviu ao Xá como Magistrado Municipal ou Comissário de Polícia em Bengala. Gopinatha Vasu e Purandara Khan serviram como Primeiros-Ministros. Sri Mukunda Kaviraja era médico. Keshava Chatri era Diplomata Real e Conselheiro do Rei. Sanatana ficou conhecido como Sakara Mallik e foi nomeado Secretário Particular. Mullik significa "Senhor" e era um título frequentemente dado pelos muçulmanos a famílias respeitáveis e ricas com laços íntimos com o governo. Rupa ficou conhecido como Dabir Khas e foi nomeado Oficial da Receita e Secretário do Tesouro por Hussain Xá, o rei de Gauda. Sri Vallabha, ou Anupama, era Superintendente Chefe da Casa da Moeda Real. Eles foram bem recompensados pelo Xá por seus serviços, que providenciou para que recebessem grandes riquezas.De acordo com os costumes védicos, quem se associa a um muçulmano se contamina e deve realizar rituais de purificação. Sanatana Gosvami sempre se associou a muçulmanos sem prestar muita atenção aos costumes da época e, como tal, considerava-se decaído de sua elevada casta de brâmanes. Portanto, sempre se apresentou como decaído, embora isso fosse apenas uma demonstração de sua grande humildade vaishnava, pela qual foi celebrado no Caitanya Caritamrita e elogiado pelo próprio Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.Sri Rupa e Sanatana estabeleceram sua sede em Ramakeli, que havia sido estabelecida como a Capital de Bengala em 1486 pelo Sultão Barbak. Atualmente, Ramkeli está localizada no distrito de Maldah, em Bengala Ocidental, perto da fronteira de Bengala com o Ganges, e fica a cerca de oito quilômetros da estação ferroviária de Maldah. Ramkeli também foi o lar de muitos devotos famosos, incluindo Sri Nrishinga, filho de Advaita Acharya.De dentro e de fora de Bengala, muitos eruditos e brâmanes de grande erudição costumavam visitar Rupa e Sanatana em suas casas. De Karnataka, vieram muitos brâmanes que se estabeleceram perto da casa de Rupa e Sanatana. Sua residência ficava perto das margens do Ganges, perto de uma cidade chamada Bhattavari. De Nabadwipa Dham, muitos brâmanes e pandits também vieram a Ramakeli para servir Rupa e Sanatana de diferentes maneiras.Sri Rupa e Sanatana eram eruditos talentosos — eram as joias mais importantes dos estudiosos da Gaudiya Vaishnava. Seu professor de filosofia e escrituras fora irmão do grande Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, Vidyavachaspati, que ensinou a Sanatana Gosvami todas as escrituras védicas. Sua devoção a Vidyavachaspati é indescritível. Vidyavachaspati costumava ficar em Ramakeli.Os três irmãos, Sanatana, Rupa e Anupama, estavam absortos em Bhava-bhakti desde a infância. Lembrando-se de Vrindavana, costumavam brincar na floresta de árvores Tamal, Keli-Kadamba e Tulsi que cercava sua casa de infância. No meio dela, havia lagos que batizaram em homenagem a Radha Kunda e Shyama Kunda. Dessa forma, estavam constantemente absortos em prestar serviço a Sri Madana Mohana. Ao ouvirem sobre os maravilhosos passatempos de Sri Gaurasundara na vizinha Nabadwipa, ansiavam por um dia ter seu darshan. Mas sua voz interior lhes dizia: "Vocês precisam ser pacientes. Em breve terão o darshan daquele grande Senhor que é o salvador dos caídos."
Quando Sri Sanatana ainda era jovem, teve um sonho incomum. Em seu sonho, viu um brâmane. O brâmane lhe deu um Srimad-Bhagavatam. Ao receber o Bhagavata, os cabelos de Sanatana se arrepiaram em êxtase. Seu sonho se dissipou. Quando acordou e viu que o brâmane e o Bhagavata haviam partido, ficou muito deprimido. Na manhã seguinte, após o banho, enquanto estava sentado para adorar o Senhor, um brâmane apareceu carregando o Bhagavata. De pé perto de Sanatana, o brâmane disse: "Pegue este Bhagavata. Estude-o sempre e toda a perfeição será sua." Dizendo isso, o brâmane lhe entregou o Bhagavata e foi embora.Ao receber o tesouro do sagrado Bhagavata, o êxtase de Sri Sanatana não conheceu limites. Daquele dia em diante, Sri Sanatana passou a estudar apenas o Bhagavata, deixando de lado outras escrituras, sabendo que o Bhagavata é a essência de todas as escrituras. Em seu Krishna-lila-stava, ele escreveu:madeka bandho matsangin
madguro homem mahadhana
homem nistaraka madbhagya
madananda namo'stu te
Sanatana Gosvami oferece seus respeitos ao Bhagavata, dizendo: "Ó sagrado Bhagavata, você é minha única companhia, meu único amigo e meu guru. Você é meu maior tesouro, meu salvador pessoal, o emblema da minha mais alta fortuna, a própria forma de êxtase. Ofereço minhas reverências a você." Ao ouvirem a notícia de que Sri Caitanya, a vida e o tesouro de Nadia, havia recebido sannyasa e ido para Puri, Rupa e Sanatana desmaiaram. Nunca tendo visto Mahaprabhu em Navadwipa, Rupa e Sanatana ficaram desanimados ao saber que ele estava deixando Bengala para sempre. Nesse momento, ouviram uma voz divina dizendo: "Não se preocupem. O misericordioso Sri Gauranga logo virá para cá." Ao ouvirem essa voz divina, sentiram-se consolados.Depois de passar cinco anos felizmente em Puri, Mahaprabhu queria retornar a Bengala para ter o darshan do Ganges e ver sua mãe, e então partiu para Nabadwipa. A alegria dos devotos era ilimitada; tendo a oportunidade de ver seu filho depois de tanto tempo, Sacidevi se esqueceu completamente de si mesma. Por muitos dias ela cozinhou e Gaurasundara apreciava sua comida. Mahaprabhu ficou na casa de Advaita em Shantipura por alguns dias e depois continuou para Ramkeli Gram.Isto está registrado no Sri Caitanya Caritamrita:Quando Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu começou a se deslocar de Kuliya em direção a Vrindavana, milhares de homens o acompanhavam, todos devotos. Onde quer que o Senhor o visitasse, multidões de inumeráveis pessoas vinham vê-Lo. Ao vê-Lo, toda a sua infelicidade e lamentação desapareciam. Onde quer que o Senhor tocasse o chão com Seus pés de lótus, as pessoas imediatamente vinham e juntavam a terra. De fato, juntavam tanta terra que muitos buracos eram abertos na estrada.O Senhor finalmente chegou a uma aldeia chamada Ramkeli. Esta aldeia está situada na fronteira de Bengala e é muito requintada. Enquanto realizava Sankirtan em Ramakeli-grama, o Senhor dançava e às vezes perdia a consciência devido ao amor a Deus. Enquanto estava em Ramkeli-grama, um número ilimitado de pessoas veio ver Seus pés de lótus. Quando o rei muçulmano de Bengala ouviu falar da influência de Mahaprabhu em atrair inúmeras pessoas, ficou muito surpreso e começou a falar o seguinte: "Tal pessoa, que é seguida por tantas pessoas sem lhes dar caridade, deve ser um profeta. Eu certamente posso entender esse fato."O rei muçulmano ordenou ao magistrado: "Não perturbe este profeta hindu por inveja. Deixe-o fazer a Sua vontade onde quiser."A visita auspiciosa de Mahaprabhu foi recebida com grande entusiasmo em Ramkeli, onde todos os devotos foram tomados pelo êxtase. Milhares de pessoas vieram de todas as direções para ver Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Quando o rei ficou um pouco preocupado com o fenômeno e começou a fazer perguntas sobre Mahaprabhu, seu conselheiro, Keshava Chatri, que era devoto, disse-lhe: "Sim, ouvi falar desse sannyasi mendicante. Ele está mendigando aqui e ali com três ou quatro seguidores."O Rei disse: "O que você está dizendo? Milhares e milhares de pessoas o seguem aonde quer que ele vá." Ao ouvir isso, Keshava Chatri deu um pequeno sorriso e insinuou que era um grande exagero. Ao ouvir as palavras de Keshava Chatri, a mente do Xá não se acalmou. Ele perguntou a Rupa Gosvami sobre tudo isso. Rupa Gosvami disse: "Por que você está me questionando? É melhor que você questione a sua própria mente. Porque você é o rei do povo, você é o representante do Senhor Supremo. Portanto, você pode entender melhor do que eu quem é Caitanya Mahaprabhu." Depois de ouvir isso, o Xá se acalmou.Sob uma árvore às margens do Ganges, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu parou para descansar. Estava acompanhado apenas por seus companheiros mais íntimos. À noite, Sanatana Gosvami e Rupa Gosvami chegaram lá. Encontraram Nityananda e Haridasa Thakura, que informaram Mahaprabhu de sua chegada. Com grande humildade, os dois pegaram feixes de palha entre os dentes e, cada um amarrando um pano em volta do pescoço, prostraram-se como varas diante do Senhor.Ao ver Mahaprabhu, Rupa e Sanatana ficaram radiantes de alegria e começaram a chorar de humildade. O Senhor pediu que se levantassem e os abençoou. Eles se levantaram e, segurando um canudo entre os dentes, ofereceram humildemente suas preces com as mãos postas. Disseram: "Todas as glórias a Sri Krishna Caitanya, o misericordioso salvador das almas caídas. Todas as glórias ao Senhor."Então, eles se submeteram, dizendo: "Senhor, pertencemos à classe mais baixa dos homens, e nossa associação e ocupação também são do tipo mais baixo. Portanto, não podemos nos apresentar a você. Sentimo-nos muito envergonhados por estarmos aqui diante de você. Querido Senhor, você encarnou para libertar as almas caídas. Você deve considerar que neste mundo não há ninguém tão caído quanto nós. Você libertou os dois irmãos Jagai e Madhai, mas para libertá-los, Você não precisou se esforçar muito. Os irmãos Jagai e Madhai pertenciam à casta brâmane, e sua residência era no local sagrado de Nabadwipa. Eles nunca serviram pessoas de classe baixa, nem foram cúmplices de pessoas abomináveis. Jagai e Madhai tinham apenas um defeito: eram viciados em pecado. No entanto, montes de pecado são reduzidos a cinzas simplesmente por Namabhasa: o reflexo fraco do santo nome. Jagai e Madhai proferiram seu nome em blasfêmia, mas a pronunciação do nome divino os libertou. Somos milhões de vezes inferiores a Jagai e Madhai. Somos mais degradados, caídos e pecaminosos do que eles. Na verdade, pertencemos à casta dos carnívoros, pois somos servos dos carnívoros. Por nos associarmos a eles, nos tornamos inimigos das vacas e dos brâmanes.Dessa forma, os dois irmãos humildemente declararam que, por causa de suas atividades abomináveis, eles estavam agora presos pelo pescoço e pelas mãos ao pecado e chafurdando no fosso imundo da gratificação dos sentidos.Eles continuaram seu apelo a Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: "Ninguém no universo é poderoso o suficiente para nos libertar. Você é o salvador das almas perdidas. Só você pode nos salvar. Se libertar pecadores caídos como nós, a força de sua misericórdia se tornará famosa em todo o mundo. Você veio para salvar os mais caídos. Nós somos os mais caídos. Se você nos mostrar sua misericórdia, então, o poder de sua misericórdia será testemunhado por todos e sua missão de salvar os mais caídos será um grande sucesso. Embora não sejamos qualificados para receber sua misericórdia, ela ainda é o desejo do nosso coração."Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "My dear Dabhir Khasa and Sakara Mallika: you two are my old servants. From this day on your names will be Rupa and Sanatana. Now please give up this display of humility, for it breaks my heart. You have written me many kind and humble letters, from which I could understand all about you. In order to instruct you I sent you a verse that read: "If a woman has a paramour she will perform her household duties even more carefully before, so that no one will know, all the while thinking of her paramour and relishing that mellow within her heart." My only business in coming to Bengal was to see the two of you. Everyone asks why I have come to Ramakeli. No one knows that I have come here only to see you. It is well that you have come to visit me. Now you may return to your homes. Have no fear of anything: birth after birth you have been my eternal servants. I am sure that Krishna shall soon deliver you."
The Lord then blessed them by placing his hands on their heads. Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana then touched the Lord's lotus feet to their heads. When all the devotees saw the Lord's mercy upon Rupa and Sanatana they became joyful and began chanting the holy name of Hari. Many of the Lord's personal associates were there, including Nityananda, Haridasa Thakura, Srivasa Thakura, Gadadhara Pandit, Mukunda, Jagadananda, Murari, and Vakreshvara Pandit. Following the Lord's instructions, Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana touched the holy feet of all these great devotees, who became exceedingly happy and congratulated the two brothers for attaining the Lord's mercy. At this time Sri Vallabha also received the mercy of the Lord and became known as Anupama. After taking permission from the devotees there, Sri Rupa and Sanatana prepared to depart, but before doing so submitted a proposal before the Lord's lotus feet.
They said, "O Lord, although the Ruler of Bengal, Hussein Shah, has some regard for you, your mission here is now complete; thus we humbly request you to depart, lest some misfortune befall you and the devotees. The king may have some respect for you, but he is a meat-eater and a muslim and as such is naturally inimical to the cows and brahmanas. He cannot be trusted for long. It is our humble consideration that there is no need to go to Vrindavana with such a great crowd. Vrindavana is a place of simplicity and rustic beauty, not pomp and grandeur. We submit that it is best not to make a pilgrimage there with hundreds and thousands of followers. "
After speaking in this way, Sri Rupa and Sanatana offered their respects at the Lord's lotus feet and went home. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then made up his mind to leave that village. The following morning he left for Kanai Natashala, where he saw many of the paintings of Krishna's pastimes that were kept on display there. That night he considered Sanatana's proposal not to go to Vrindavana with a big crowd. He thought, "If I go to Vrindavana with so many people, its mellow ambience of simplicity and rustic beauty will be ruined. I should go alone or with one other person to Vrindavana. In that way, my pilgrimage to Vrindavana will be very beautiful." Thinking in this way, the Lord returned to Jagannatha Puri.
The Caitanya Caritamrita (M.L. 19) describes how Sanatan Gosvami managed to free himself from his government duties and escape from prison to join Sri Rupa in Vrindavana. On the plea of illness he left his post to study the Bhagavata with devotees and brahmanas at his home. When a doctor brought this to the Shah's attention, he went to Sanatana and demanded that he accompany him to Orissa. When Sanatana refused he was imprisoned. Sanatana Gosvami made use of some money sent by Rupa Gosvami and escaped by bribing his jailer. He then left for Benares to meet Caitanya Mahaprabhu. On the way Sanatana stopped at a hotel with his servant Ishan, and after realizing that the hotel keeper planned to kill them for gold in Ishan's possession, Sanatana made Ishan pay the hotel keeper his last coin, and begged his help to pass through the jungle. The hotel keeper was moved and, being the leader of the local dacoits, helped them through the jungle and over the Hazaribag mountains. Parting company with Ishan, he went on to meet his brother-in-law, Sri Kanta. Seeing that his brother had become a fugitive and a mendicant, Sri Kanta asked Sanatana to stay with him, but Sanatana refused. Upon the departure of Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Kanta gave his brother-in-law a fine woolen blanket.
Finally Sanatana reached Benares and met Sri Caitanya at the house of Chandreshekhara. The Lord ordered him to shave his beard and long hair, and so Sanatana shaved his head and adopted the dress of a babaji, accepting some old cloth from Tapan Mishra. When he could understand that the Lord disapproved of a babaji in the dress of a mendicant wearing a fine and expensive woolen blanket, he traded the blanket to a brahman he met at the Ganges in exchange for a torn quilt. The Lord was pleased by Sanatana's humility and submission and instructed him for some time on the science of devotion.
At that time, he elaborated on the position of the soul in the material world and the soul's constitutional nature as an eternal servant of Krishna. He explained the different energies of Krishna - svarupa-shakti, maya-shakti, and tatastha-shakti. He described the relative positions of karma, jnana and bhakti by relating the parable of Sarvajna, the astrologer. He showed how that all scriptures have Krishna and his service as their aim.
At that time Sri Caitanya described the consitutional position of Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He discussed all the different forms, features, plenary expansions, and avatars of the Lord. He explained the spiritual worlds of Goloka and Vaikuntha, and described the Lord's opulence in Vaikutha and his sweetness in Vrindavana. The illusion of Brahma was discussed. After this Caitanya Mahaprabhu described the means of attaining Krishna Prema. He described the two kinds of jivas and explained how karma, jnana, and yoga divorced from bhakti are useless. He described the six kinds of surrender and showed the worthlessness of Varnashram devoid of Krishna. He spoke of the divine mercy of Krishna and explained how Krishna appears as diskha-guru, shiksha-guru, and chaitya-guru in order to enlighten the surrendered souls. He explained the development of faith, the three gradations of devotees, the twenty-six qualities of a pure Vaishnava and the three characteristic features of a true Vaishnava. Kindess as a primary feature of Vaishnavas was described, using the examples of Haridasa Thakura and Vasudeva Datta.
Mahaprabhu explained that association with sadhus is indispensable to Krsihna-bhakti and Krishna-prema, where bad association is detrimental to the growth of divine love. The meaning of surrender and self-abnegation were discussed, as were the characteristic features of a liberated soul.
At that time Mahaprabhu explained the two divisions of sadhana-bhakti: Vaidhi-Sadhana-Bhakti and Raganuga-Sadhana-Bhakti. The sixty-four branches of sadhana-bhakti were described with special emphasis on the five most important: association with devotees, chanting of the holy name, hearing Srimad-Bhagvatam, deity worship, and living in a holy place.
The nine different methods of devotion and the devotees who attained perfection in each of them were discussed. After this the internal and external development of raganuga-sadhana-bhakti was explained. After this bhava-bhakti and prema-bhakti were discussed along with the nine stages of sadhana, the characteristics of a bhava-bhakta and the characteristics of a prema-bhakta.
At this time, the Lord explained the Sixty-four qualities of Krishna, the meaning of true and false renunciation. He explained the essential importance of associating with saints and, by way of illustration, told the story of Narada and the hunter.
In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained the transcendental position of Krishna, the nature of the jiva, the nature of devotional service, and the ultimate perfection of love of Godhead. He also explained the atmarama verse of Srimad Bhagavatam in sixty-one different ways.
After enlightening Sanatana in all the truths of bhakti, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered him to write books on devotional service, to establish the proper practices and behavior for devotees, to install deities and reveal the proper methods of deity worship, and to excavate the lost holy places of pilgrimage in Vrindavana.
The Books of Sanatana Gosvami
Among the important books compiled by Sanatana Gosvami is the Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa, which explains the proper duties and correct behavior for Vaishnavas.
In the Caitanya-caritamrita, Krishna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami records Mahaprabhu's instructions to Sanatana on compiling Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa.
Kaviraja Gosvami writes (CC ML 29.326-345): "Folding his hands, Sanatana Gosvami said, "My Lord, you ordered me to write a directory about the activities of Vaishnavas. I am a most lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behavior. How is it possible for me to write authorized directions about Vaishnava activities?"
Sanatana Gosvami then requested the Lord, "Please personally tell me how I can write this difficult book about Vaishnava behavior. Please manifest yourself within my heart. If you would please manifest yourself within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then, although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it. You can do this because You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Yourself, and whatever You direct is perfect."
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Whatever you want to do you will be able to do correctly by Lord Krishna's favor. He will manifest the real purport. Because you asked me for a synopsis, please hear these few indications. In the beginning one must take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master. In your book there should be the characteristics of the bona fide guru and the bona fide disciple. Then, before accepting a spiritual master, one can be assured of the spiritual master's position. Similarly the spiritual master can also be assured of the disciple's position.
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, should be described as the worshipable object, and you should consider the bija-mantra for the worship of Krishna, Rama or any other expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You should discuss the qualifications necessary for receiving a mantra, the perfection of the mantra, the purification of the mantra, initiation, morning duties, remembrance of the Supreme Lord, cleanliness, and washing the mouth and other parts of the body. In the morning one should regularly brush his teeth, take his bath, offer prayers to the Lord and offer obeisances to the spiritual master. One should render service to the spiritual master and paint one's body in twelve places with tilaka. One should stamp the holy names of the Lord on his body, or one should stamp the symbols of the Lord, such as the disc and club. After this, you should describe how one should decorate his body with gopicandana, wear neck beads, collect tulasi leaves from the tulasi tree, cleanse his cloths and the altar, cleanse one's own house or apartment and got to the temple and ring the bell just to draw the attention of Lord Krishna.
"Also describe Deity worship, wherein one should offer food to Krishna at least five times daily. One should in due time place Krishna on a bed. You should also describe the process for offering arati and the worship of the Lord according to the list of five, sixteen, or fifty ingredients.
"The characteristics of the Deities should be discussed as well as the characteristics of the salagrama sila. One should also discuss visiting the Deities in the temple and touring holy places like Vrindavana, Mathura and Dvaraka.
"You should glorify the holy name and explain the importance of carefully giving up offenses when chanting the holy name. You should explain the symptoms of a Vaishnava and how to give up all kinds of seva-aparadha, offenses in Deity worship. The items of worship, such as water, conchshell, flowers, incense and lamp, should be described. You should also mention chanting softly, offering prayers, circumambulating, and offering obeisances. All these should be carefully studied. Other items to be considered are the method of performing purascharana, taking Krishna-prasada, giving up the eating of unoffered food and not blaspheming the Lord's devotees. One should know the symptoms of a devotee and how to associate with devotees. One should know how to satisfy the devotee by rendering service, and one should know how to give up the association of nondevotees. One should also regularly hear the recitation of Srimad-Bhagvatam.
"You should describe the ritualistic duties of every day, and you should describe the fortnightly duties - especially observing Ekadashi fast, which comes every fortnight. You should also describe the duties of every month, especially the observance of cermonies like Janmastami, Ramanavami and Nrsimha-caturdasi. You should recommend the performance of pure Ekadashi.
"Whatever you say about Vaishanva behavior, the establishment of Vaishnava temples and Deities and everything else should be supported by evidence from the Puranas. You should give general and specific instructions of the behavior and activities of a Vaishnava. You should outline things that are to be done and things that are not to be done. All this should be described as regulations and etiquette. I have thus given a synopsis of the Vaishanva regulative principles. I have given this in brief just to give you a little direction. When you write on this subject, Krishna will help you by spiritually awakening you."
Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa is based on notes collected by Gopal Bhatta Gosvami and is known as a vaishnava smriti. If one examines its content, one will see that its content closely conforms to the instructions given Sanatana Gosvami by Sri Caitanya.
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada summarizes its contents as follows:
This vaishnava-smriti-grantha was finished in twenty chapters, known as vilasas. In the first vilasa there is a description of how a relationship is established between the spiritual master and the disciple, and mantras are explained.
In the second vilasa, the process of initiation is described.
In the third vilasa, the methods of Vaishanva behavior are given, with emphasis on cleanliness, constant remembrance of the Supreme Personality fo Godhead, and the chanting of the mantras given by the initiating spiritual master.
In the fourth vilasa are descriptions of samskara, the reformatory method; tilaka, the application of twelve tilakas on twelve places of the body; mudra, marks on the body; mala, chanting with beads; and guru-puja, worship of the spirtiual master.
In the fifth vilasa, one is instructed on how to make a place to sit for meditation, and there are descriptions of breathing exercises, meditation and worship of the salagram-sila representation of Lord Vishnu.
In the sixth vilasa, the required practices for inviting the transcendental form of the Lord and bathing Him are given.
In the seventh vilasa, one is instructed on how to collect flowers used for the worship of Lord Vishnu.
In the eight vilasa, there is a description of the Deity and instructions on how to set up incense, light lamps, make offerings, dance, play music, beat drums, garland the Deity, offer prayers and obeisances and counteract offenses.
In the ninth vilasa, there are descriptions of the devotees of the Lord (Vaishnavas or saintly persons).
In the eleventh vilasa, there are elaborate descriptions of Deity worship and the glories of the holy name of the Lord. One is instructed on how to chant the holy name of the Deity, and there are discussions about offenses committed while chanting the holy name, along with methods for getting relief from such offenses. There are also descriptions of the glories of devotional service and the surrendering process.
In the twelfth vilasa, Ekadashi is described.
In the thirteenth vilasa, fasting is discussed, as well as observance of the Maha-dvadashi ceremony.
In the fourteenth vilasa, different duties for different months are outline.
In the fifteenth vilasa, there are instructions on how to observe Ekadashi fasting without even drinking water. There are also descriptions of branding the body with the symbols of Vishnu, and discussions of Caturmasya observations during the rainy season, and discussions of Janmasthami, Parsviakadashi, Shravana-dvadashi, Rama-navami, and Vijayi-dashami.
The sixteenth vilasa discusses duties to be observed in the month of Karttika (October-November), or the Damodara month, or Urja, when lamps are offered in the Deity room or above the temple. There are also descriptions of the Govardhana-puja and Ratha-yatra.
The seventeenth vilasa discusses preparations for Deity worship, maha-mantra chanting and the process of japa.
In the eighteenth vilasa the different forms of Sri Vishnu are described.
The nineteenth vilasa discusses the establishment of the Deity and the rituals observed in bathing the Deity before installation.
The twentieth vilasa discusses the construction of temples, referring to those constructed by the great devotees.
Sri Santana Gosvami's commentary on Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa is called the Dig-Darhsini-Tika. Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes of Hari-Bhakti-Vilasa: "Another famous book by Sanatana Gosvami is the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, which states the rules and regulations for all divisions of Vaishnavas, namely Vaishnava householders, Vaishnava brahmacaris, Vaishnava vanaprasthas and Vaishnava sannyasis." Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada notes, "This book was especially written, however, for Vaishnava householders."
Among the most important books compiled by Sanatana Gosvami is the Brihad-Bhagavatamritam. Whereas the Hari-Bhakti-Vilas expands on Mahaprabhu's teachings to Sanatana regarding Vaishnava behavior and ritual, Brihad-Bhagavatamrita analyses the ontology and metaphysics of Mahaprabhu's teachings.
In Brihad-Bhagavatamritam, Sanatana Gosvami records the conversation that took place between Pariksit Maharaja and his mother Uttara after he had heard the Bhagavata from Shukadeva. She asks him to explain the gist of the Bhagavatam, and Pariksit Maharaja begins by telling the story of Narada's search for the most fortunate and intimate devotee of Krishna. This part of the conversation reveals the gradation of intimacy in devotional service. Progressing from those devotees whose bhakti is mixed with karma (Brahma) and jnana (Shiva), Narada progresses to shanta-rasa (Prahlada) dasya-rasa (Hanuman) sakhya-rasa (Arjuna) and finally to Krishna's dearmost devotee Uddhava, who aspires for a position in Vrindavana and who reveals the love of the gopis for Krishna as the last word in bhakti.
Part Two of Brihad-Bhagavtamrita reveals the story of gopa-kumara, an errant cowherd boy who, having received mantra initiation from a resident of Vrindavana, passes through one planetary system after the next, exploring different levels of consciousness in a spritual odyssey that takes him from earth, through the heavenly planets to Brahmaloka, Viraja, the brahmajyoti, Shivaloka, Vaikuntha, Ayodhya, Dwarka, Mathura, and finally Goloka, where he realizes his eternal position in the pastimes of Krishna in sakhya rasa.
In Brihad-Bhagavatamritam there are descriptions of devotees, intimate devotees, most intimate devotees and complete devotees. About this book, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes (CC Adi 5.203), "Sri Santana Gosvami Prabhu, the teacher of the science of devotional service, wrote several books, of which the Brihad-Bhagavatamrita is very famous; anyone who wants to know about the subject matter of devotees, devotional service and Krishna must read this book."
According to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, "The second part describes the glories of the spiritual world, known as Goloka-mahatmya-nirupana, as well as the process of renunciation of the material world. It also describes real knowledge, devotional service, the spiritual world, love of Godhead, attainment of life's destination and the bliss of the spiritual world. In this way there are seven chapters in each part, fourteen chapters in all."
Sanatana Gosvami Prabhu also represents the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam. Of this commentary, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes, "Dasama-tippani is a commentary on the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Another name for this commentary is Brihad-vaishnava-toshani-tika. In the Bhakti Ratnakara it is said that Dasama-tippani was finished in 1476 Sakabda...Sanatana Gosvami gave his [Brihad] Vaishanva-tosani commentary to Srila Jiva Gosvami for editing, and Srila Jiva Gosvami edited this under the name of Laghu-tosani. Whatever he immediately put down in writing was finished in the year 1476 Saka. Jiva Gosvami completed Laghu-tosani in the year Sakabda 1504. Sanatana Gosvami also composed Krishna-lila-stava which is known as Dashama-charit and describes the pastimes of Krishna up to Mathura."
Elsewhere (CC Adi 5.203) Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes of Dasama-tipanni, "Sanatana Gosvami also wrote a special commentary on the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam known as the Dasama-tipanni, which is so excellent that by reading it one can understand very deeply the pastimes of Krsna in His exchanges of loving activities."
After meeting with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and receiving the instructions that would form the basis for the scriptures he would later compile, Sanatana Gosvami went to Vrindavana by the main road, and when he reached Vrindavana he met Subuddhi Raya. When he arrived in Vrindavana, he found that Rupa Gosvami had already left. He then went to Jagannatha Puri through Jharikhanda, the Uttara Pradesh jungle. After contracting a skin disease he felt to be offensive to the Lord's touch, he decided to give up his life by falling beneath the wheels of the Jaganatha Ratha-Yatra cart, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu expressed his disapproval of suicide and saved Sanatana through his mercy. Later Sanatana Gosvami met Haridasa Thakura and heard from him of the disappearance of his brother Anupama.
The Caitanya Caritamrita records how, while in Jagannatha Puri, Sanatana Gosvami described the glories of Haridasa Thakura. When Jagadananda Pandit granted Sanatana permission to leave for Vrindavana, Sri Caitanya disapproved, and glorified the qualities of Sanatana Gosvami, ordering Sanatana Gosvami to remain in Jagannatha Puri for a year.
Later, when Jagadananda Pandit went to Vrindavana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu put him under the guidance of Sanatana Gosvami. At that time, Jagadananda Pandit became angry with Sanatana for wearing a turban made from a piece of red cloth given him by a sannyasi other than Sri Caitanya, but was pacified by Sanatana's deep devotion. (At that time, Sanatana remarked that red cloth is unfit for Gaudiya Vaishnava Sannyasis, since it is worn by the Mayavadi followers of Shankaracarya's impersonal school. Since that time, out of respect for the words of Sanatana Gosvami, Gaudiya Vaishnava Sannyasis have adopted the color saffron for the dress of renunciation.) When Sanatana Gosvami finally returned to Vrindavana, he was reunited with Rupa Gosvami, and the two of them remained there to execute the orders of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sanatana Gosvami and Madana Mohan
The Bhakti-Ratnakara describes how Sanatana began the worship of his Madana-Mohan deity. Among Mahaprabhu's orders to Sanatana was his instruction to establish the worship of the Deity of Krishna. The Bhakti Ratnakara describes how Sri Sanantana Gosvami, when he was staying in Vrindavana, began the worship of Sri Madana-Mohan.
In Mahavana, nearby Krishna's birthplace in Vrindavana, Sanatana Gosvami made a hut of grass. There he would perform his daily bhajan. One day, as he went out begging, he came to a small village on the banks of the Yamuna. At that time Madana Mohana Deva was playing on the side of the river with some small gopa boys. When he saw Sanatana, he cried out, "O Father! Baba!" With this, he came running after Sanatana Gosvami and grabbed hold of his hand, saying, "Take me with you. I want to go with you."
"Little boy, why do you want to go with me?"
"I want to stay with you."
"If you stay with me, what will you eat?"
"What do you eat?"
"Only some dry chapatis and coarse rice."
"Then I will also eat that, Baba."
"Even if you could eat like that, you can't stay with me. You must stay with your mother and father."
"But, Baba! I want to stay with you."
Making the boy understand his wishes, Sanatana sent him home, and then continued his begging rounds.
That night, the boy appeared to him in a dream. In the dream, the boy was laughing again and again. He took hold of Sanatana's hand and told him, "Baba! My name is Madana Mohana. Tomorrow I shall come to you." Saying this, Madana Mohana disappeared, and with this Sanatana awoke. He was so overcome by ecstasy that he felt as if his soul had been stolen from his body. He thought, "What have I seen? I have never seen such a beautiful boy."
His mind was filled with remembrance of Sri Hari. When he opened the door to his kutir, he found that standing in the doorway was a wonderful murti of Sri Madana Mohana. That deity was so beautiful that it filled the four directions with its effulgence.
Sanatana Gosvami was stunned for some time, but after a while, he came to his senses, and at that time, his eyes filled with tears of ecstasy which gradually wet the earth beneath him. After this, he began the worship of the deity by performing an abhisheka ceremony. When Rupa Gosvami saw that wonderful deity, he was filled with prema.
Sri Sanatana used to serve that deity in his own humble grass hut. Sri Rupa Gosvami sent word of these auspicious events to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Jagannatha Puri by messenger.
After begging all day, Sri Sanatana Gosvami would return to his grass hut in the evening and offer some dry chapatis to his deity, Madana-Gopala. Sometimes he would also prepare some shak or other vegetables to go with it. In any case, he would never prepare any vegetables with oil or salt. Most of the time he could only offer chapatis. As a result, Sanatana would become sorrowful, thinking himself unfit to properly worship the deity. But he couldn't afford it, because Caitanya Mahaprabhu had given him a service: to compose devotional scriptures. At the same time he had to spend all day collecting alms. When could he find the time to go out and beg for oil and salt? Sri Sanatana Gosvami's mind was filled with grief. As Paramatma, the Lord knew Sanatana's mind. Madana Mohana thought to himself, "I am eating dry chapatis, and Sanatana's mind is very unhappy as a result. He wants to serve me in royal style. As a result he feels that his service is of no use."
At that time there was a wealthy merchant of the kshatriya caste named Sri Krishna Dasa Kapoor. He was on his way to Mathura to do some business. He was coming down the Yamuna in a big boat. When his boat became stuck on a sandbar, and he could see no way to continue, he began to think "What can we do now?" At that time Krishna Dasa Kapoor heard from the local people that there was a big sadhu living in Vrindavana who could help. His name was Sanatana Gosvami. When Krishna Dasa Kapoor came to see him, Sanatana was sitting in his hut, writing, wearing only a loincloth, his body lean from austerity and renunciation. Sanatana offered his visitor a grass mat as a seat, and touching Krishna Dasa Kapoor with his hand, bade him sit. At this, Krishna Dasa Kapoor said, "Baba! Give me your mercy."
Sanatana said, "I am only a beggar. What kind of mercy can I give you?"
"I only pray for your blessings. My boat is stuck on a sandbar in the Yamuna river and I can see no way to free it."
"I know nothing about it. Explain it all to Madana Mohana."
Krishna Dasa Kapoor offered his dandavats before the Madana Mohana deity and said, "O Madana Mohana Dev! If you give me your mercy and free my boat, then whatever profit I make from this business I will give it to you for your seva."
With this prayer, Kapoor asked permission to leave.
That day a big storm came and rain poured from the heavens, raising the level of the Yamuna's waters. As the waters grew higher and higher, Kapoor's boat was freed from the sandbar and began making its way down the Yamuna. Krishna Dasa Kapoor could understand that this was all the mercy of Madana Mohana. He had made a handsome profit on his cargo, and donated it all to build a lavish temple for Sri Madana Mohana, including a bhogashala where first-class edibles could be stored for the pleasure of the Lord.
From that time on, Madana Mohana was served in royal style. Seeing this royal service of Madana Mohana, Sanatana Gosvami became very happy. Soon after this, Sanatana Gosvami accepted Krishna Dasa Kapoor as his disciple and gave him initiation.
The Madana Mohan temple still stands today, and is an important place of pilgrimage for all Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
In discussing the importance of the Madana Mohan Deity, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes, "Srila Sanatana Gosvami is the ideal spiritual master, for he delivers one the shelter of the lotus feet of Madana Mohana. Even though one may be unable to travel on the field of Vrindavana due to forgetfulness of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can get an adquate opportunity to stay in Vrindavana and dreive all spiritual benefits by the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami."
Similarly, Krishna Dasa Kaviraj Gosvami prays,
jayatam suratau pangor
mama manda-mater gati
mat-sarvasva-padambhojau
radha-madana-mohanau
"Glory to the all merciful Radha-Madana-Mohana! I am lame and ill-advised, yet they are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me."
Kaviraja Gosvami also says, "These three Deities of Vrindavana (Madana-mohana, the Deity of Sanatana Gosvami, Govinda, the deity of Rupa Gosvami, and Gopinatha, the Deity of Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami) have absorbed the heart and soul of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, (followers of Lord Chaitanya). I worship their lotus feet, for they are the Lods of my heart." (CC AL 1.19)
Translating the commentary of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes: "The author of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita offers his respectful obeisances unto the three Deities of Vrindavana named Sri Radha-Madana-Mohana, Sri Radha-Govinda-Deva, and Sri Radha-Gopinathaji. These three Deities are the life and soul of the Bengali Vaishnavas, or Gaudiya Vaishnavas, who have a natural aptitude for residing in Vrindavana.
The Gaudiya Vaishnavas who follow strictly in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahrapabhu worship the Divinity by chanting transcendental sounds meant to develop a sense of one's transcendental relationship with the Supreme Lord, a reciprocation of mellows (rasas) of mutual affection, and ultimately, the achievement of the desired success in loving service. These three Deities are worshiped in three different stages of one's development. The followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu scrupulously follow these principles of approach.
Gaudiya Vaishnavas perceive the ultimate objective in Vedic hymns composed of eighteen transcendental letters that adore Krishna as Madana-Mohan, Govinda, and Gopijanavallabha.
Madana-Mohana is He who charms Cupid, the god of love, Govinda is He who pleases the senses and the cows, and Gopijanavallabha is the transcendental lover of the gopis. Krishna Himself is called Madana-Mohana, Govinda, Gopijanavallabha and countless other names as He plays in His different pastimes with His devotees. The three Deities - Madana-Mohana, Govinda, and Gopijanavallabha - have very specific qualities. Worhsip of Madana-Mohana is on the platform of reestablishing our forgotten relationship with the Personality of Godhead. In the beginning of our spiritual life we must worship Madana-Mohana so that He may attract us and nullify our attachment for material sense gratification. This relationship with Madana-Mohana is necessary for neophyte devotees. When one wishes to render service to the Lord with strong attachment, one then worships Govinda on the platform of transcendental service. Govinda is the reservoir of all pleasures. When by the grace of Krishna and the other devotees one reaches perfection in devotional service, he can appreciate Krishna as Gopijanavallabha [Gopinatha], the pleasure Deity of the damsels of Vraja.
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained this mode of devotional service in three stages, and therefore these worshipable Deities were installed in Vrindavana by different Gosvamis. They are very dear to the Gaudiya Vaishnavas there, who visit the temples at least once a day."
Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gives further understanding on this subject in his introduction to the Caitanya Caritamrita: "In Caitanya Caritamrita, Krishnadas first offers his obeisances to Madana-mohana-vigraha (Santana Gosvami's Deity), the Deity who can help us progress in Krishna consciousness. In the execution of Krishna consciousness, our first business is to know Krishna and our relationship with Him. To know Krishna is to know one's self and to know one's self is to know one's relationship with Him. Since this relationship can be learned by worhsiping Madana-mohana-vigraha, Krishnadas Kaviraj first establishes his relationship with Him.
When this is established, Krishnadas begins to worship the functional Deity, Govinda (Rupa Gosvami's Deity). Krishnadas Kaviraja Gosvami maintains that the Radha and Krishna Deities (Radha-Govinda) show us how to serve Radha and Krishna. The Madana-mohana Deities simply establish that "I am your eternal servant." With Govinda, however, there is actual acceptance of service, and therefore he is called the functional Deity. The Gopinatha Deity is Krishna as master and proprietor of the gopis. He attracted all the gopis or cowherd girls by the sound of his flute, and when they came, he dance with them... Krishna is therefore called Gopinatha because He is the beloved master of the gopis."
This progression - Krishna or Madana-Mohana, Radha-Govinda, Radha-Gopinatha - is also found in the three key words of the eighteen syllable Krishna gayatri. This is explained in Jiva Gosvami's remarks on the Gayatri mantram, found in his commentary on the Brahma-Samhita which is translated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura.
There, Jiva Gosami explains that the mantram has six elements, and that "Krishnaya," in the mantram refers to Krishna-svarupa, or in Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's language, "the proper self of Krishna." (Madana-Mohana). The second element in the mantram, or the second aspect of Krishna to be revealed (Govinda) is "krishnasya chinmaya vraja-lila-avilasa-svarupa": "the true nature of Krishna's pastimes in Vrindavana."
The third aspect of Krishna is Gopijanavallabha, (Gopinatha) Krishna who is dear to the gopis.
It is therefore said that in the mantram "Klim Krishnaya, Govindaya, Gopijanavallabhaya, etc...", "Krishnaya" is Madana-Mohana, the first object of worship represented in sambandha-jnana, whose acharya is Sri Sanatana Gosvami. "Govindaya" is the Lord who is surrounded by his intimate serving group. Because Govinda accepts one's service, He is the deity of abidheya-tattva, whose acharya is Rupa Gosvami. "Gopijanavallabhaya" in the mantram refers to Gopinatha, the master of the great rasa dance in which all the gopis take part. This represents the ultimate goal, or prayojana, whose acharya is Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami. Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, the acharya of the highest goal of life, accepts the lotus feet of Sri Rupa (the abidheaya acharya) as his highest aspiration and thus shows us the path to the highest goal. Rupa Gosvami in his turn always offers his respects to Sanatana Gosvami (the sambandha acharya), whom he considered to be his spiritual master.
In his commentary on the talks between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya, Bhaktivinoda Thakura elaborates further on this theme. Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada translates his commentary as follows: "In the mantra: klim kamadevaya vidmahe pushpabanaya dhimahi tan no nangah prachodayat, Krishna is called Kamadeva or Madana-mohana, the Deity who establishes our relationship with Krishna. Govinda, or pushpa-bana, who carries an arrow made of flowers, is the Personality of Godhead who accepts our devotional service. Ananaga or Gopijanavallabha, satisfies all the gopis and is the ultimate goal of life."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in his Anubhashya commentary on Caitanya Caritamrita, further explains this version on the basis of Jiva Gosvami's comments on the Brahma-samhita verse: atha venuninadasya trayimurtimayi gatih, sphuranti praviveshashu mukhabjani sarojajah. This verse describes how the flutesong of Sri Krishna was heard by Brahma as the Gayatri mantram.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura translates "trayimurti gatih" to mean that the gayatri is "the mother of the three Vedas."
Bhaktivinoda explains that in this verse, the words "trayimurti gatih" means that the sound emanating from the flutesong of Sri Krishna, or Gayatri is the basis of sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. He says that "trimurtimayi" also indicates the three murtis Madana-Mohana, Govinda, and Gopinatha. Upon hearing this sound, Brahma became initiated as a twice-born, and became acquainted with the ocean of truth (sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana), after which he uttered the famous "Govinda" prayers beginning with "chintamani prakara-sadmasu."
Bhaktivinoda Thakura supports this view by quoting at length from Brahma-Samhita, Jiva Gosvami's commentary, Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakrua, and the Gopal Tappani Upanishad, which all corroborate the above version.
It is clear from the above that Sanatana Gosvami occupies a special position in the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. He is the acharya of sambandha-jnana, or knowledge of our proper devotional relationship with Krishna. Moreover his deity, Madana-Mohana, helps us to overcome the influence of the senses and fix our minds in devotional service.
Sanatana Gosvami's literatures are a storehouse of nectar. His personal example of humility is beyond description. He is an intimate associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Radha-Krishna, and the guru of Srila Rupa Gosvami. Let us all pray for the shelter of his lotus feet.
Radharani appears to Sri Sanatana
In Bhakti-Ratnakara, it is written that one day Sanatana Gosvami went to Radha-Kunda to see Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami. When they saw Sanatana approaching, they rose to offer him respect, and then offered him a seat. With this, the three of them began an ishta-gosthi, a discussion about Krishna. Sri Rupa Gosvami had written a Stotram to Radharani called "Chatu-Pushpanjali" - an offering of four flowers. Sri Sanatana Gosvami read the verses, and was struck by one in particular:
navagorochana gauri, pravarendi varamvaram,
manistavaka-vidyoti-veni-vyalangana-phanam
"O Vrindabaneshvari! I offer my respects unto you. Because your complexion is like newly molten gold, you are known as Gaurangi. Your dress is beautiful like that of a blue lotus. Your long braid of hair resembles a black serpent decorated with jewels."
When Sanatana saw the line, "Your braided hair resembles a black serpent..." he thought about this comparison and said, "Is this a logical or reasonable metaphor? To compare Radharani's hair to a serpent?"
That afternoon Sri Sanatana went to Radha Kunda to take his bath. After offering different reverential prayers to the Radha Kunda, he took his bath there. At that time, a little distance from the Kunda, he could see some gopi boys and girls playing, at the foot of some trees. As he glanced in their direction, he could just make out that right behind the head of one of the girls was what might have been a long, black, dangling braid, but looked to Sanatana Gosvami much more like a deadly snake, swaying back and forth as if ready to strike.
At that time he called out, "O young girl! Be careful: there is a snake creeping up on your back!" The young girl, caught up in the joy of her playing, took no notice. Apparently she couldn't hear him. Thereupon he went running up to her and saw that the girl was none other than Sri Radha Thakurani. When the gopas and gopis saw him, they burst out laughing. They laughed and laughed for some time without stopping. Sri Sanatana Gosvami was struck dumb. After this, he could understand the logic of Sri Rupa Gosvami's metaphor.
Krishna Brings Milk
The Bhakti Ratnakara records how once Sri Sanatana Gosvami was alone in the forest on the banks of the Pavana Sarovara performing his bhajan in a secluded place. He had been fasting from food and drink. As he is the supersoul in all living beings, the Lord could understand everything. He thought, "My devotee is starving. I cannot tolerate this."
In the dress of a gopa, Krishna entered the forest where Sanatana was staying, carrying a pot of milk. He came before Sanatana and said, "Baba! I have brought you some milk."
Sanatana said, "Why have you brought me milk?"
"You are not eating properly, that's why."
"How did you know that I am not eating anything?"
"Many gopas have come and gone by here. They told me you have not been eating."
"Why didn't they come?"
"They have much work at home, so they sent me."
"You are such a little boy, why have you taken so much trouble for me?"
"No, no, father. It is no trouble at all."
Taking the pot of milk, Sanatana said, "Sit down, little boy. I will finish the milk and give you back your pot."
"No baba. I cannot sit with you. I have to milk the cows. I will come and fetch the pot tomorrow."
Saying this, the boy vanished, and Sri Sanatana became speechless. He could understand that all this was the work of Krishna. He began to drown in the tears that poured from his eyes as he drank the milk. From that day on he ate by practicing madhukari, or only accepting a tiny bit from many different residents of Vrindavana. Gradually the residents of Vrindavana built him a kutir so that he could stay there.
Accepting Service from Sri Radha
One day Sri Rupa Gosvami wanted to prepare some sweet rice for Sanatana Gosvami, but didn't have the necessary provisions for making sweet rice in his kutir. At that time, she who brings about the fulfillment of the inner aspiration of devotees, Srimati Radha Thakurani, could understand everything. And so, in the dress of a young gopi girl she brought milk, rice, and sugar to Rupa Gosvami, saying, "Swamiji! Swamiji! I have brought you a gift of uncooked rice. Please accept it."
Hearing the words of the young girl, Sri Rupa Gosvami opened the door to his hut and looked out. There he saw a beautiful young gopi maiden with some offerings of food. Rupa Gosvami said, "Little girl! Whay have you come here?"
"Swamiji! I have only brought you some simple uncooked food."
"Why have you taken such trouble for me?"
"Baba! What trouble? I have only come to render a humble service to a saintly person."
Accepting the offering of milk, sugar and uncooked rice, Rupa Gosvami said, "Young girl please take your seat, while I put these things away." The girl said, "I'm sorry, but I have some work to do."
Saying this, the girl disappeared. When Rupa Gosvami turned around and saw that she had gone, he was very bewildered by all this. At length, he prepared the sweet rice and offered the bhoga to his deity, Govindadeva. After some time, he gave the prasada to Sanatana Gosvami, who had just arrived. While honoring prasada, Sanatana Gosvami experienced an unusual and enchanting kind of joy.
He asked Sri Rupa, "Where did you get this milk and rice from?"
Rupa Gosvami said, "A young gopi girl came by and gave it to me."
Sanatana said, "A young girl just came by all of a sudden and gave you this milk and rice?"
Rupa Gosvami replied, "Yes, she just came by all of a sudden. The strange thing is, I was just thinking, "How can I make some sweet rice for Sanatana" and she just appeared, as if by magic, with this milk and rice and some sugar."
Hearing this, tears of prema began falling from the eyes of Sanatana Gosvami. He said, "Can't you recognize something when it is right before your eyes? It was Sri Radha Thakurani Herself who has brought you milk and rice. By accepting service from Her we are ruined. Now we shall never attain our desired goal." And in this way, Sanatana Gosvami continually condemned himself again and again for having accepted service from that person whom he most aspired to serve: Sri Radha Thakurani. This pastime of Sri Sanatana Gosvami is recorded in the Bhakti Ratnakara.
The Bhakti-Ratnakara also records how, every day, Sri Sanatana Gosvami would make the four mile pilgrimage around Govardhan hill, but because of his old age this was very troublesome. Still, he did not want to break his religious principles by not circumambulating Govardhan hill. And so he would suffer great physical hardship while circumambulating Govardhan.
The Lord knows everything and thus could understand the pain his devotee Sanatana was experiencing. He decided to do something about this. One day, a little gopa boy came to Sanatana and said, "Baba! You are old. Don't go to such trouble to walk around Govardhan hill."
Sanatana said, "This is one of the regular principles of my bhajan - I must maintain it."
The boy said, "Since you are old, you may give now up this rule."
Sanatana said, "I will never give up my religious principles."
Krishna then told him, "Baba! Won't you honor my words?"
Sanatana said, "If it is honorable, then I shall honor it."
At that time Krishna presented Sanatana Gosvami with a shila, a stone, bearing the meark of his own lotus feet, and said: "This is Govardhan-shila, a piece of stone from Govardhan itself."
Sanatana said, "What shall I do with it?"
Sri Krishna said, "If you circumambulate this Govardhan-shila, your vow of walking all the way around Govardhan hill every day will remain intact, for by circumambuting this, you cirucmumbulate Govardhan Hill. You will thereby get the same result, keep your vow intact, and not compromise your religious principles."
Sri Sanatana Gosvami was silenced. He could understand that Giriraja himself had given him this shila. From that day forward, he used to circumambulate the Govardhan-shila marked with the divine marks of the lotus feet of Sri Krishna.
Following the orders of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana Gosvami did not climb Govardhana hill because they considered it nondifferent from Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. On some pretext, the Gopal deity granted Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu an audience beneath the hill, and Gopala similarly favored Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami. During his ripe old age, when Rupa Gosvami could not go to Govardhan Hill because of invalidity, Gopala kindly went to Mathura and remained at the temple of Vithaleshavara for one month. It was then that Srila Rupa Gosvami could see Gopala's beauty to his heart's content.
As atividades de Srila Rupa e Sanatana Gosvami enquanto residiam em Vrindavana são descritas por Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami no Caitanya Caritamrita (CC ML 19.128-132) da seguinte forma: "Os irmãos, na verdade, não têm residência fixa. Eles residem sob as árvores – uma noite sob uma árvore e a noite seguinte sob outra. Srila Rupa e Sanatana Gosvami mendigam um pouco de comida nas casas dos brâmanes. Abandonando todos os tipos de prazer material, eles se contentam com um pouco de pão seco e grão-de-bico frito. Carregam apenas potes de água e vestem colchas rasgadas. Eles sempre cantam os santos nomes de Krishna e discutem Seus passatempos. Em grande júbilo, eles também dançam. Eles se dedicam quase vinte e quatro horas por dia a prestar serviço ao Senhor. Geralmente dormem apenas uma hora e meia, e em alguns dias, quando cantam continuamente o santo nome do Senhor, não dormem. Às vezes, escrevem literatura transcendental sobre serviço devocional, e às vezes Eles ouvem falar de Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu e passam o tempo pensando no Senhor. Quando os associados pessoais de Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ouvia falar das atividades de Rupa e Santana Gosvami, perguntavam: "O que há de maravilhoso para alguém que recebeu a misericórdia do Senhor?"
