Category Archives: Gaudiya Vaishnav Biographies

Yadavacharya Goswami

Yadavacharya Goswami or Yadav Mishra He was the brother of Vishnupriya Devi.

He was a resident of Vrindavana & a disciple of Rupa Goswami. He was one of the improtant Vaishnavas who requested Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami to write Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita.

Yadavacharya gosani Shri-rupera sangi

Chaitanya-carite tenho ati bada rangi

(C.C. 1.8.67)

Shri Yadavacharya Goshani, a constant associate of Shrila Rupa Goswami, was also very enthusiastic in hearing and chanting about Lord Chaitanya's pastimes.

Yadavacharya Goswami or Yadav Mishra He was the brother of Vishnupriya Devi. He was a resident of Vrindavana & a disciple of Rupa Goswami. He was one of the improtant Vaishnavas who requested Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami to write Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita. (In the wallpaper: in the left Shrimati Vishnupriya Devi, in the right Shri Rupa Goswami, Shri Chaitanya Charitaamrita).

Before Chaitanya-Charitamrita a number of treatises pertaining to the life of Mahaprabhu were written. But none of these satisfactorily described the last days of Mahaprabhu in Nilachala. Therefore the Devotees of Mahaprabhu were left dissatisfied and disappointed. One day some prominent Devotees of Vrindavana, including Shri Bhugarbha Goswami, Kashishvara Goswami’s disciple Govinda Goswami, Rupa Goswami’s disciple Yadavacharya Goswami, Mukunda Chakravarti, Shivananda Chakravarti and Haridasa (sevait of Govinda Deva), together requested Krishnadasa to compile a biograbhy of Mahaprabhu, which described the antya-lila (last days) of Mahaprabhu in detail.

When Virabhadra Goswami arrived at Vrindavana, Yadavacharya went with other Devotees to welcome him.

The family priests of Mahaprabhu at Navadwipa claim to be descendants of Yadavacharya.

Yadunandanacharya

Yadunandanacharya was a brahmana residing in a village called Jhamatapura, near Rajabol Hatta in the district of Hugali.

He was a disciple of Virchandra Prabhu.

He had two daughters – his own daughter by birth, Shrimati, and a foster daughter named Narayani.

Both these daughters married Birchandra.

The marriage of Birchandra Prabhu has been mentioned in the Bhakti Ratnakara of Shri Narahari Chakravarti Thakura as follows:

"Near Rajabol Hatta is Jhamatpura. Shri Jahnava Mata went there to the Temple of one of her disciples. There, lived the brahmana Yadunandana Acharya. By the mercy of Shri Jahanava Mata he was endowed with great devotion. Yadunandana had a wife named Lakshmi. It was said that she was a pure and highly religous wife. They had two daughters – Shrimati and Narayani. Their bodily beauty was wonderful beyond compare. Upon the wish of Jahnava Mata that fortunate brahmana gave his two daughters to be wed to Birchandra Prabhu."

Yadunandana Dasa

Yadunandana dasa or Thakura was a Vaidya by caste and a disciple of Hemalata, the daughter of Shrinivasa Acharya.

His Shripata was at Malihati village (or Meleti) to the north of Katoa. He wrote the book which contains a biography of Shrinivasa Acharya. In his book Karnananda, Shri Yadunandana dasa mentions the name of his guru at the end of every chapter and respectfully glorifies her: "Hemalata, the daughter of Shrinivasa Acharya prabhu, is just like a creeper of divine love and is a beautiful creation of the Supreme Lord. I, Yadunandana dasa, take pleasure in writing the book Karnananda, keeping her lotus feet fixed within my heart." Upon hearing this book Hemalata Devi was deeply impressed and named it Karnananda.

He was a versatile genius, composing numerous songs and translating many books into verse..."Worship the feet of guru which is the only abode of peace and which is the mine of all good qualities the daughter of Acharya Prabhu is Shri Hemalata, whose name can bring fulfillment of all desires finding me in utter darkness of ignorance and in utter damnation, she gave me her kind refuge and by her mercy my eyes have been opened by throwing away the darkness of ignorance." (In the wallpaper: Shrinivas Acharya).

Yadunandana acquired great fame for his lucid translations of Vidagdhamadhava, Govindalilamrta and Krishnakarnamrta. His poems have been included in Padamrtasamudra.

In 1459 Saka the great composer Shri Yadunandana dasa was born in the village of Khalihati, which was situated on the western bank of the Bhagirathi and the northern part of Kantakanagara, 13 crosa south of the district of Mursidabad.

He translated Shri Govinda-lilamrta in verse and in that book he states:

"Worship the feet of guru which is the only abode of peace and which is the mine of all good qualities the daughter of Acharya Prabhu is Shri Hemalata, whose name can bring fulfillment of all desires finding me in utter darkness of ignorance and in utter damnation, she gave me her kind refuge and by her mercy my eyes have been opened by throwing away the darkness of ignorance."

Shrimati Hemalata Thakurani was a wonderful genius amongst the Vaishnavas in Gauda. She, like her father Shrinivasa, preached the teaching of Lord Chaitanya everywhere. Through her influence even the most wicked persons became interested and attracted to the path of devotion.

Shri Yadunandana dasa was very sincere and devoted to his guru. He frequently stayed at the house of Shrimati Hemalata in the village of Budhaipara on the western bank of the Bhagirathi, where he served her with utmost care. There are no records available about Yadunandana's marriage or children. He was a versatile genius, composing numerous songs and translating many books into verse.

Kamalakanta Vishvasa

...Kamalakanta, a very confidential servant of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu born in a brahmana family, engaged in the service of Shri Advaita Acharya as His secretary. (In the image: Shrila Advaita Acharya).

Kamalakanta Vishvasa was born in a brahmana family. He was a very confidential servant of Advaita Acharya.

‘kamalakanta visvasa’-nama acarya-kinkara

acarya-vyavahara saba—tanhara gocara

(C.C. Adi 12.28)

Advaita Acharya’s very confidential servant named Kamalakanta Vishvasa knew all the dealings of Advaita Acharya.

Shrila Prabhupada writes in the purport:

The name Kamalananda mentioned in the Adi-lila (10.149) and the name Kamalakanta mentioned in the Madhya-lila (10.94) both refer to the same man. Kamalakanta, a very confidential servant of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu born in a brahmana family, engaged in the service of Shri Advaita Acharya as His secretary. When Paramananda Puri went from Navadwipa to Jagannatha Puri, he took Kamalakanta Vishvasa with him, and they both went to see Lord Chaitanya at Jagannatha Puri. It is mentioned in the Madhya-lila (10.94) that one of the Devotees of Lord Chaitanya, the brahmana Kamalakanta, went with Paramananda Puri to Jagannatha Puri.

singabhatta, kamabhatta, dantura sivananda

gaude purva bhrtya prabhura priya kamalananda

(C.C. Adi 10.149)

Singabhatta was the thirty-first, Kamabhatta the thirty-second, Shivananda the thirty-third and Kamalananda the thirty-fourth. They all formerly served Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Bengal, but later these servants left Bengal to live with the Lord in Jagannatha Puri.

prabhura eka bhakta-’dvija kamalakanta’ nama

tanre laña nilacale karila prayana

(C.C. Madhya 10.94)

There was a Devotee of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s named Dvija Kamalakanta, whom Paramananda Puri took with him to Jagannatha Puri.

Sadashiva Kaviraja

"Chandravali-gopi, who had been very dear to Lord Krishna in Vrajabhumi, appeared in Bengal as Sadashiva Kaviraja." (In the image: Shri Shri Chandravali Krishna, Rathor).

Sadashiva Kaviraja was a great Devotee of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

He belonged to the spiritual lineage of Lord Nityananda. Four generations of Sadashiva's family were parsadas or Devotees of Lord Gauranga.

A Vaidya by caste, Sadashiva was the son of Kansari Sen. Sadashiva's son was Purushottama dasa. His grandson was Kanu Thakura.

The twenty-third and twenty-fourth prominent Devotees of Nityananda Prabhu were Sadashiva Kaviraja and his son Purushottama dasa, who was the tenth gopala. (CC. 1.11.38).

C.B. Antya 5 Text 741: Sadashiva Kaviraja was very glorious and fortunate. His son was named Purushottama dasa.

Sadashiva Kaviraja is glorified in Shri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika verse 156 as follows:

"Chandravali-gopi, who had been very dear to Lord Krishna in Vrajabhumi, appeared in Bengal as Sadashiva Kaviraja."

The present Goswami families of places such as Bodhakhana, Bhajanghat, etc., descend from Sadashiva.

Vidyavacaspati

He was the son of Mahesvara (Narahari Visarada) and the brother of the famous Vasudeva Sarvabhauma. His origin name was Vishnudasa and he migrated from Navadvipa and built his Shripata at Kumarahatta. He wrote the commentary on Tattvacintamani.

During Lord Chaitanya's first visit from Puri to Gauda, He came to Vishnudasa's house at Vidyanagara but due to the crowds of visitors who had gathered there, the Lord quietly went off in the night to the house of Madhava dasa at Kulia village

It's mentioned in Bhakti Ratnakara (1.598-602): "Vidyavachaspati was the religious guide of Sri Sanatana and from time to time he stayed at Ramkeli. Sri Sanatana studied many scriptures under him and his respect for Vidyavacaspati knew no bounds. He respectfully mentioned the name of his guru in his book Sri Dasama Tippani."

Sanatana received diksa from Vidyavacaspati.

Forced to submit to the ruling Muslim government, Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana became ministers and lived at Ramakeli. But their real engagement was teaching sastras which they learned from Vidyavacaspati, brother of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.

Sri Sanatana Gosvami is described in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (181). He was formerly known as Rati-mañjari or sometimes Lavanga-mañjari. In the Bhakti-ratnakara it is stated that his spiritual master, Vidya-vacaspati, sometimes stayed in the village of Ramakeli, and Sanatana Gosvami studied all the Vedic literatures from him. He was so devoted to his spiritual master that this cannot be described.(C.C.1.10.84)

Sanatana Gosvami sings praise to him among other gurus in the introductory part of Brhad Vaishnavatosani.

The charming vraja-gopi named Tungavidya appeared as Vidyavacaspati, who was dear to both Lord Caitanya and the residents of Vrndavana. (Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika)

Madhusudana Vachaspati

Madhusudana Vachaspati is also considered guru of Shrila Sanatana Goswami, who is Rati Lavanga-manjari in Krishna Lila. (In the image: Rupa and Lavanga Manjaris).

He was a famous scholar and the Vedanta teacher of Kashi. He was the disciple of Vasudeva Sarvabhauma of Nilachala. (Bhaktiratnakara 1.776-778)

The conclusions of Vedanta contained in Shrimad-Bhagavatam that were expounded by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya in Puri had been in turn taught by the Bhattacharya to Madhusudana Vachaspati.

Under Shri Madhusudana Vachaspati, Shrila Jiva Goswami studied Vedanta, logic, philosophy and all kinds of scripture.

Taking leave of Nityananda Prabhu, Jiva went to the house of Tapana Mishra at Kashi.

In that sense Madhusudana was Jiva's Vaidantika guru (Bhaktiratnakara). Thereafter Jiva went to Vrindavana and Rupa and Sanatana, Jiva's uncles, happily received their nephew. Jiva then received diksha from Rupa Goswami.

Madhusudana Vachaspati is also considered guru of Shrila Sanatana Goswami, who is Rati Lavanga-manjari in Krishna Lila.

Shankararanya

That Lord Nityananda is also non-differnent from Lord Sankarshana is described in the following statement of the Shri Chaitanya-chandradaya-nataka: "Lord Nityananda Avadhuta is non-different from Lord Sankarshana."..."Lord Nityananda Avadhuta is actually the Personality of Godhead Lord Balarama. Always staying among the Devotees, He shines with the splendor of thousands of suns." (In the wallpaper: from left to right Lord Shri Balarama, Shri Nityananda Prabhu, ISKCON Chennai).

Shankararanya was the sannyasa name of Shrila Vishvarupa, who was the elder brother of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. At young age he left home and took sanyas. He left his body in Pandarapura.

sankararanya—acarya-vrksera eka sakha

mukunda, kasinatha, rudra—upasakha lekha

(C.C.1.10.106)

The acharya Shankararanya was considered the forty-eighth branch of the original tree. From Him proceeded the subbranches known as Mukunda, Kashinatha and Rudra.

Shrila Prabhupada writes in the purport:

It is said that Shankararanya was the sannyasa name of Shrila Vishvarupa, who was the elder brother of Vishvambhara (the original name of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu). Shankararanya expired in 1432 Sakabda (A.D. 1510) at Sholapur, where there is a place of pilgrimage known as Pandarapura. This is referred to in the Madhya-lila, Chapter Nine, verses 299 and 300.

Lord Chaitanya hears about the passing away of Shankararanya

tanra eka yogya putra kariyache sannyasa

‘sankararanya’ nama tanra alpa vayasa

(C.C.2.9.299)

Shri Ranga Puri also remembered that one of her (Sachimata) deserving sons had accepted the renounced order at a very young age. His name was Shankararanya.

ei tirthe sankararanyera siddhi-prapti haila

prastave sri-ranga-puri eteka kahila

(C.C.1.9.300)

Shri Ranga Puri informed Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that the sannyasi named Shankararanya had attained perfection in that holy place, Pandarapura.

Shrila Prabhupada writes in the purport:

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s elder brother was named Vishvarupa. He left home before Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and accepted the sannyasa order under the name of Shankararanya Swami. He traveled all over the country and finally went to Pandarapura, where He passed away after attaining perfection. In other words, He entered the spiritual world after giving up His mortal body at Pandarapura. Shri Ranga Puri, a disciple of Shri Madhavendra Puri and Godbrother of Isvhara Puri, disclosed this important news to Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

There is a description in Chaitanya Bhagavata Adi Khanda Ch 7:

Text 67

In name only did Vishvarupa go home. He quickly returned to Advaita's house.

Text 68

Material happiness did not bring pleasure to Vishvarupa's heart, where the bliss of Krishna-kirtana always stayed.

Text 69

When He was home, Vishvarupa stayed always in the room that was a Vishnu Temple. He hardly ever went to the other rooms.

Text 70

When His parents began to make plans for His marriage, Vishvarupa became very unhappy at heart.

Text 71

"I must renounce the world", Vishvarupa decided in His heart. "I must go to the forest", was the only thought in His heart. It kept Him awake at night.

Text 72

Only the Supreme Personality of Godhead can truly understand the desires that stay in the Supreme Personality of Godhead's heart. After a few day Vishvarupa accepted sannyasa.

Text 73

In this world He was known by the name "Shankararanya". The best of the Vaishnavas, He walked on the path that leads to the limitless Supreme Person.

The Lord and His parents loudly wept. Tormented by separation from His brother, Lord Chaitanya fell unconscious...Jagannatha Mishra's home became filled with weeping.(In the wallpaper: crying person, and leaving person).

Text 74

When saintly Vishvarupa left, the hearts of Sachi and Jagannatha Mishra burst into flames.

Text 75

The Lord and His parents loudly wept. Tormented by separation from His brother, Lord Chaitanya fell unconscious.

Text 76

I do not have the power to place on my mouth words that describe that torment of separation. Jagannatha Mishra's home became filled with weeping.

Text 77

Seeing that Vishvarupa had accepted sannyasa, Advaita and the other Vaishnavas wept again and again.

Text 78

When they heard this news, the upper-class and middle-class non-devotees did not respond in the same way. Hearing this news, they were not overcome with grief.

Text 79

Their hearts broken, Sachi and Jagannatha Mishra cried, "Vishvarupa! Vishvarupa!"

Text 80

Jagannatha Mishra was overcome with grief for his son. His relatives and friends tried to console him.

Text 81

They said, "O Jagannatha Mishra, please be peaceful. Don't be unhappy at heart. Your son is a great soul who has brought liberation to His entire family.

Text 82

"When a person accepts sannyasa, then sixty-million of His family members go to live in Vaikuntha.

Text 83

"By acting in this way, your son has attained the perfection of knowledge.

Text 84

"You should be very happy." Speaking these words, everyone grasped the hands and feet of Sachi and Jagannatha Mishra.

Text 85

They said, "Your Vishvambhara is the ornament of the family. This son will continue your dynasty.

Text 86

"He will destroy all your sufferings. How can ten millions sons in compare this son?"

Text 87

All the relatives and friends explained the truth in this way. Still Jagannatha Mishra's suffering did not break.

Text 88

Thinking of these instructions, Jagannatha Mishra became peaceful. Then, when he remembered Vishvarupa's virtues, he forgot all about being peaceful.

Text 89

Jagannatha Mishra said, "In my heart I do not know whether this son will stay home.

Text 90

"Lord Krishna gave me a son, and then Lord Krishna took Him away. Whatever Lord Krishnachandra wishes will certainly be.

Text 91

"Independent of You, the individual soul has not even a half mustard seed's worth of power. O Lord Krishna, I dedicate my body and senses to You. I take shelter of You."

"Independent of You, the individual soul has not even a half mustard seed's worth of power. O Lord Krishna, I dedicate my body and senses to You. I take shelter of You." (In the wallpaper: Shri Krishna, ISKCON Chennai, a man).

Text 92

With this knowledge of jnana-yoga, little by little saintly Jagannatha Mishra became peaceful and steady in his thoughts.

Text 93

In this way Vishvarupa left home. His form is not different from the form of Lord Nityananda.

Text 94

Whoever hears this description of Lord Vishvarupa's sannyasa attains Krishna-bhakti (devotional service to Lord Krishna). For him the noose of karma is cut.

Text 95

When they heard of Vishvarupa's sannyasa, the Devotees felt both joy and sorrow at every moment.

In Shri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika, Kavi Karnapura describes:

The original form of the Supreme Lord is considered not different from the Lord's direct expansions. For this reason it is considered that Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of Shrimati Sachi-devi, is non-different from His expansion Lord Vasudeva, the first member of the Chatur-vyuha. In the same way Shri Vishvarupa is considered non-different from the incarnation Lord Sankarshana, the second member of the Chatur-vyuha.

Lord Nityananda Avadhuta is also said to be non-different from Lord Sankarshana. That Shri Vishvarupa is identical with Lord Sankarshana is described in the Shri Chaitanya-chandrodaya-nataka, where Kali says to Dharma the following words:

"Lord Chaitanya's elder brother Vishvarupa is identical with the Personality of Godhead Lord Sankarshana. Vishvarupa never married, but accepted the order of parivrajakacharya-sannyasa and left home. It was the transcendental glory of Shri Vishvarupa that caused Lord Chaitanya to accept spiritual initiation from Ishvara Puri."

When the eternal Personality of Godhead Lord Vishvarupa disappeared from home, He entered the body of Lord Nityananda Avadhuta.

My father, Shivananda Sena, once said: "Lord Nityananda Avadhuta is actually the Personality of Godhead Lord Balarama. Always staying among the Devotees, He shines with the splendor of thousands of suns." Saying this, he began to dance.

We find references of Vishvambhara in Chaitanya Mangala by Shri Lochana Das Thakur:

Vishvarupa, the older brother of Vishvambhara, was a precocious student and he quickly learned all the Vedas. Who can explain the greatness of Nimai's brother?

Vishvarupa Takes Sannyasa

I shall now describe a conversation between Murari Gupta and Damodara Pandita.

Damodara Pandita asked Murari Gupta, "Where has Vishvarupa, Nimai's elder brother, gone?"

Murari replied, "Listen to me, great Pandita Damodara. I will tell you whatever I know. Vishvambhara, the abode of good qualities, quickly learned all the scriptures. He's expert in all brahminical duties. He affectionately serves His parents. He is fully conversant with Vedanta, the essence of all religion. He does nothing but devotional service to Lord Vishnu. He is dear to everyone. He has achieved all perfections, yet within His heart He stays completely detached and fixed in the Absolute Truth.

"Vishvarupa, the son of Jagannatha Mishra, held the shastras in his left hand and discussed Krishna-katha with his classmates. One day while walking home, Jagannatha Mishra saw this and thought, 'Now, my young beautiful son is eighteen years old and ready for marriage. I should make arrangements for Vishvarupa's marriage.'

"Noticing his father' s meditative mood, Vishvarupa thought, 'it seems my father is thinking about my marriage, but I shouldn't get married. Of course, this might upset my mother.' The next day at dawn, Vishvarupa clasped his manuscripts and left home forever. He swam across the Ganges and took sannyasa.

"At midday there was still no sign of Vishvampa. Jagannatha and Sachidevi searched every house in Navadwipa, but couldn't find their son. The neighbors whispered among themselves about Vishvarupa's taking sannyasa. When Jagannatha Mishra and Sachidevi heard this, they both fainted unconscious on the ground. The three words, appeared full of darkness.

"Sachidevi cried out, 'O my son Vishvarupa! Come home, I want to see you. Why did you leave everything? How will your beautiful delicate body and tender feet tolerate the hardship of walking far and wide? You can't tolerate the slightest pain for even a moment. To whom will you present your insistent demands? When you were studying, you couldn't concentrate on your lessons. 'I can't go anywhere without thinking of you. When I take a bath, my mind is disturbed with the thought that you may return at any time. When I hear you calling "Mother" I forget everything else; for that sound is my greatest treasure. Seeing your sweet face, I no longer think of myself. I don't know what kind of suffering has caused you to neglect me and accept sannyasa.

'O my husband, go search for Vishvarupa and bring him back to me. Let the people say whatever they want, but bring back my son again. I shall perform his sacred thread ceremony.'

"Trying to pacify his bereaved wife, Jagannatha Mishra said, 'Please listen Sachidevi, don't lament. The whole material existence is false like a dream. Your son Vishvarupa is a great personality. By accepting sannyasa at such an early age, he will bring fortune to our family. Please bless him so he can remain fixed in his sannyasa vow, and progress steadily on the path of devotional service. Don't lament for his welfare. If a member of the family takes sannyasa, he benefits many generations of that family. So, our son has done a wonderful thing.' "Damodara, in this way Jagannatha and Sachidevi consoled each other. This concludes the story of Vishvarupa's sannyasa."

Lochana Dasa says that at that time Vishvambhara was sitting on Sachimata's lap and gazing at His father's face. Vishvambhara said, "Father, it doesn't matter where My brother, Vishvarupa, has gone. Don't worry, I will look after you." On hearing this, Jagannatha Mishra and Sachidevi lovingly embraced Nimai and forgot their miseries.

'Please listen Sachidevi, don't lament. The whole material existence is false like a dream. Your son Vishvarupa is a great personality. By accepting sannyasa at such an early age, he will bring fortune to our family. Please bless him so he can remain fixed in his sannyasa vow, and progress steadily on the path of devotional service. Don't lament for his welfare. If a member of the family takes sannyasa, he benefits many generations of that family. So, our son has done a wonderful thing.' (In the wallpaper: Sannyasa initiation fire sacrifice).

Anupama Mallika

He belonged to the descending line from Lord Chaitanya. He was the youngest brother of Rupa and Sanatana Goswami. Kumardeva was the name of their father. Jiva Goswami of Vrindavana was the son of Anupama. Anupama was the Chief of the Mint, under the rule of Hussain Shah, the King of Gauda (Bhaktiratnakara 1.665 669 and CC 3.4.43) He was a worshipper of Rama, this may be why his name has not been mentioned separately in Gauraganoddesadipika and Vaishnava Vandana.

anupama-vallabha, sri-rupa, sanatana
ei tina sakha vrksera pascime sarvottama

"On the western side were the forty-third, forty-fourth and forty-fifth branches – Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa and Sri Anupama. They were the best of all." [Cc. Adi 10.84]

Sri Anupama was the father of Srila Jiva Gosvami and youngest brother of Sri Sanatana and Sri Rupa Gosvami. His former name was Vallabha, but after Lord Chaitanya met him He gave him the name Anupama. Because of working in the Mohammedan government, these three brothers were given the title Mullik. Mullik means "lord."

Rupa and Sanatana Goswami.

The genealogical table of Vallabha Gosvami can be traced back to the Twelfth Century sakabda, when a gentleman of the name Sarvajna appeared in a very rich and opulent brahmana family in the province of Karnataka. He had two sons named Aniruddhera Rupesvara and Harihara, who were both bereft of their kingdom and were thus obliged to reside in the highlands.

The son of Rupesvara, who was named Padmanabha, moved to a place in Bengal known as Naihati on the bank of the Ganges. There he had five sons, of whom the youngest, Mukunda, had a well behaved son named Kumaradeva, who was the father of Rupa, Sanatana and Vallabha.

Kumaradeva lived in Baklacandradvipa, which is in the district of Yasohara and is now known as Phateyabad. Of his many sons, three took to the path of Vaishnavism. Later Sri Vallabha and his elder brothers Sri Rupa and Sanatana came from Chandradvipa to the village in the Maldah district of Bengal known as Ramakeli. It is in this village that Srila Jiva Gosvami took birth, accepting Vallabha as his father.

When Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited the village of Ramakeli, He met Vallabha there. Later, Sri Rupa Gosvami, after meeting Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, resigned from government service, and went to Vrindavana to meet Lord Chaitanya, Vallabha accompanied him. The meeting of Rupa Goswami and Vallabha with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Allahabad is described in the Madhya-lila, Chapter Nineteen.

Actually, it is to be understood from the statement of Sanatana Gosvami that Sri Rupa Goswami and Vallabha went to Vrindavana under the instruction of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. First they went to Mathura, where they met a gentleman named Subuddhi Raya who maintained himself by selling dry fuel wood. He was very pleased to meet Sri Rupa Gosvami and Anupama, and he showed them the twelve forests of Vrindavana. Thus they lived in Vrindavana for one month and then again went to search for Sanatana Goswami.

"Vallabha was given the name Anupama by Sri Gaurasundara, but he was always absorbed in the devotional service of Lord Ramacandra. He did not know anyone but Sri Ramacandra, but he knew that Chaitanya Gosai was the same Lord Ramacandra."

Following the course of the Ganges, they reached Allahabad, or Prayaga-tirtha, but because Sanatana Goswami had come there by a different road, they did not meet him there, and when Sanatana Goswami came to Mathura he was informed of the visit of Rupa Goswami and Anupama by Subuddhi Raya. When Rupa Goswami and Anupama met Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Benares, they heard about Sanatana Goswami's travels from Him, and thus they returned to Bengal, adjusted their affairs with the state and, on the order of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, went to see the Lord at Jagannatha Puri.

In the year 1436 Sakabda, the youngest brother, Anupama, died and went back home, back to Godhead. He went to the abode in the spiritual sky where Sri Ramachandra is situated. At Jagannatha Puri, Sri Rupa Goswami informed Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of this incident. Vallabha was a great Devotee of Lord Ramacandra; therefore he could not seriously consider the worship of Radha-Govinda according to the instructions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Yet he directly accepted Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Ramacandra.

In the Bhakti-ratnakara there is the following statement: "Vallabha was given the name Anupama by Sri Gaurasundara, but he was always absorbed in the devotional service of Lord Ramacandra. He did not know anyone but Sri Ramacandra, but he knew that Chaitanya Gosai was the same Lord Ramacandra."

Sulochana

Sulochana is the forty-second branch of Chaitanya tree. He lived in the village of Shrihatta along with his dear friend Chiranjiva. They were completely surrendered to Lord Chaitanya, and because they were the friends and helpers of Narahari dasa they were honored and considered great souls.

vasanta, navani hoda, gopala, sanatana

visnai hajara, krsnananda, Sulochana

(C.C.1.11.50)

Vasanta was the fifty-first, Navani Hoda the fifty-second, Gopala the fifty-third, Sanatana the fifty-fourth, Visnai the fifty-fifth, Krishnananda the fifty-sixth and Sulochana the fifty-seventh.

Shrila Prabhupada writes in the purport:

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya, “Navani Hoda appears to have been the same person as Hoda Krishnadasa, the son of the King of Badagachi. His father’s name was Hari Hoda. One can visit Badagachi by taking the Lalagola-ghata railway line. Formerly the Ganges flowed by Badagachi, but now it has become a canal known as the Kalsira Khala. Near the Mudagacha station is a village known as Shaligrama in which King Krishnadasa arranged for the marriage of Shri Nityananda Prabhu, as described in the Bhakti-ratnakara (Twelfth Wave). It is sometimes said that Navani Hoda was the son of Raja Krishnadasa. His descendants still live in Rukunapura, a village near Bahiragachi. They belong to the dakshina-radhiya-kayastha community, but, having been reformed as brahmanas, they still initiate all classes of men.”

khandavasi mukunda-dasa, sri-raghunandana

narahari-dasa, cirañjiva, Sulochana

ei saba mahasakha—Chaitanya-krpadhama

prema-phala-phula kare yahan tahan dana

(C.C.1.10.78-79)

Shri Khandavasi Mukunda and his son Raghunandana were the thirty-ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Chiranjiva the forty-first and Sulochana the forty-second. They were all big branches of the all-merciful tree of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere.

Shri Sulochana was one of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s associates and in Krishna-lila he was Chandrashekhara Gopi.