Lokanatha Goswami

Lokanatha Goswami

His body and mind were completely attached to Vrindavanadhama. The divine Was of Radha-Vinoda played in his heart. His ears existed only to hear the Shrimad Bhagavatam. "Anyone who reads the Shrimad Bhagavatam," said Lokanatha Goswami, "he is my friend." (In the images: Shrila Lokanatha Goswami).

   A personal associate of Lord Gauranga, fully absorbed in pure love, Shri Lokanatha Goswami was the eldest of the Goswamis living in Vraja-bhumi. He shunned name and fame so much that he asked Krishna Dasa Kaviraja to keep his name out of Chaitanya-charitamrta.
 
   His body and mind were completely attached to Vrindavanadhama. The divine Was of Radha-Vinoda played in his heart. His ears existed only to hear the Shrimad Bhagavatam. "Anyone who reads the Shrimad Bhagavatam," said Lokanatha Goswami, "he is my friend."
    .
   Once Shri Krishna Himself appeared and gave Lokanatha a Deity of Radha-Vinoda. Lokanatha Goswami carried his Deity all over Vraja in a cloth bag hung around his neck.
 
   Although first rejecting, Lokanatha Goswami finally accepted Narottama Dasa for initiation as his only disciple. He appreciated his genuine humility and determination to serve. Every night for one year Narottama Dasa secretly served his guru by carefully cleaning the field where Lokanatha Goswami passed stool.

   Lokanatha Goswamis original Deities of Radha-Vinoda are now worshiped in Jaipur, Rajasthan. A prati-bhu murti (expanded form of the original Deity) of Radha-Vinoda adorns the altar at the Radha-Gokulananda Temple in Vrindavana. The samadhi of Lokanatha Goswami is the largest one in the Temple courtyard. He serves Shrimati Radharani as Manjuali-manjari in nitya Vrindavana lila.

srimad radha vinodaika, seva sampat samanvitam
padmanabh atma jam srimal, lokanatha prabhu bhaje

   "I worship the lotus feet of Shri Lokanatha Goswami Prabhu, the son of Shri Padmanabha. He is a storehouse of single-minded service to the lotus feet of Radha-Vinode." (Narottama Dasa Thakura) 

Lokanatha Goswami 2

Once Shri Krishna Himself appeared and gave Lokanatha a Deity of Radha-Vinoda. Lokanatha Goswami carried his Deity all over Vraja in a cloth bag hung around his neck. (In the image: Original Radha Vinoda Deities, Jaipur).