Bhajana Kutir of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
| Table of contents |
Overview
Here is the bhajan kutir of Srila Raghunatha das Gosvamai, who was affectionately known to all the Gaudiya Vaishnavas as Dasa Gosvami. He was one of the most intimate and important followers of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Raghunatha dasa was born in Bengal in the year 1494, as the son of a very wealthy landowner. During his youth he heard about the glories of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and his only desire was to join the Lord and serve His lotus feet.
On one occasion, Raghunatha dasa met Lord Nityananda at Panihati. The Lord instructed him to organize a big festival where various prepations of cida-dadhi (flat rice and yogurt) were distributed to thousands of devotees. Lord Nityananda blessed Raghunatha that in the future he would get the mercy of Lord Caitanya. Even though Raghunatha dasa came from a very wealthy family, he had absolutely no interest in material affairs. On a number of occasions, much to the consternation of his loving parents, Raghunatha dasa tried to run away from home and join Lord Caitanya in Jagganatha Puri.
Feeling disturbed by their son's behavior, Raghunatha's parents arranged his marriage to a very beautiful girl, in the hope that it would help him to settle down. However, Raghunatha had absolutely no interest in family life. At the age of nineteen, he managed to escape from home, making his way to Jagannatha Puri, where he took shelter of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
At Jagannatha Puri, Lord Caitanya placed Raghunatha under the care of Svarupa Damodara Gosvami, the Lord's principle secretary. Raghunatha dasa was the embodiment of renunciation and ate only enough to keep his body and soul together. It is said that his strict regulative principles were exactly like lines etched in stone, as such lines can never be erased. Raghunatha dasa continued to render confidential service to Lord Caitanya up until the end of the Lord's manifest pastimes on earth, in 1534.
After the disappearance of Lord Caitanya, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami journeyed to Vrindavana to meet Rupa and Sanatan Gosvamis. Raghunatha, who was feeling great separation from Lord Caitanya, had decided to end his life by jumping down from Govardhana Hill. Rupa and Sanatan convinced him not to end his life, but to to stay and keep him in their company, accepting him as their younger brother.
Resides in Radha-kunda
Once, Lord Caitanya presented Raghunatha dasa with his own Govardhana-sila to worship, along with His gunja-mala, which is sacred to Srimate Radharani. Rupa and Sanatana took this as a sign that Raghunatha should take shelter of Govardhana Hill and reside on the banks of Radha-Kunda. Acting on their advice, Raghunatha spent the rest of his life at Radha-Kunda.
In the year 1583, after almost forthy eight yers of performing bhajan on the banks of the sacred kunda, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami finally entered samadhi. In those days, because of the repressive Mogul rule; it was decided to burn the sacred body of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, so that the Muslim fanatics would not, in the future, be able to dig up his sacred body and desecrate it.
Some of the ashes of Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami are entombed in a shrine located in the Gopinatha Temple. Behind the samadhi, is a small movable stone. Under this stone is caranamrita from Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami’s samadhi-murti. You can also get some of Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami’s buttermilk maha-prasada, which is kept behind the kirtana party in a small niche in the wall.
Pastimes
There are some amazing pastimes that took place while Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was sitting by the bank of Shyama Kunda. One day two tigers came out of the jungle and drank some water next to him. He was so absorbed in chanting that he did not notice the tigers. Krishna suddenly appeared and stood by Raghunatha Dasa to protect him. Sanatana Gosvami then arrived and saw Krishna standing over Raghunatha Dasa. After the tigers left, Krishna turned and smiled at Sanatana Gosvami and then disappeared. Sanatana Gosvami then came to Raghunatha Dasa and chastised him saying that what kind of bhajana was he doing that Krishna had to come to protect him. Sanatana Gosvami then asked Raghunatha Dasa to build a kutir to do his bhajana.
At another time, Raghunatha Dasa was sitting on the bank of Radha Kunda. It was extremely hot and Raghunatha Dasa started sweating profusely. He was also crying in separation from Radharani. Radharani seeing this came personally and held her veil over Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami to protect him from the scorching Sun. Radharani also started to perspire heavily and her clothing became wet.
At this time Sanatana Gosvami arrived and saw Srimati Radharani protecting Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami from the Sun. Radharani then looked at Sanatana, smiled and then disappeared. Sanatana Gosvami then came and chastised Raghunatha for taking the service of Radharani. Raghunatha then turned and saw the footprints of Radharani in the muddy earth.
Raghunatha then started to cry and roll around on the ground. Sanatana Gosvami was finally able to comfort Raghunatha. A cottage was then built for Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami.
The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika says that Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was Rasa-Manjari in Krishna's pastimes. Sometimes it is said that he was Rati-Manjari. In the sacred memory of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, a twenty four hour akhand kirtana is still being performed next to his samadhi.
Sri Radha-Kundastakam
The Glories of Srimati Radhika's Kunda
Written by Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
"After the killing of Aristasura, Srimati Radhika and Her sakhis exchanged many joking words with Sri Krishna concerning the necessary atonement for one who has committed the offence of killing a bull. As a result, the Queen of Vrindavana, Srimati Radhika, and Her sakhis joyfully excavated and filled Sri Radha-kunda with their own hands. May that immensely fragrant Radha-kunda be my shelter.
"In the land of the hearts of those who bathe in Radha-kunda, a desire tree of the superlative prema, which is not attainable even for Krishna's principal queens in Dvaraka, will arise. May that supremely charming Radha-kunda be my shelter.
"For the pleasure of Srimati Radhika, even Sri Krishna Himself, yearning to attain Her merciful sidelong glance, regularly bathes in Radha-kunda, carefully observing all the appropriate rituals. May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda be my shelter.
"May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda, which the moon of Vraja, Sri Krishna, loves as much as He loves the crown-jewel amongst the sweet girls of Vraja, Srimati Radhika, and which He has made known by the name of Radhika Herself, be my shelter.
"The mercy obtained by serving Radha-kunda makes the desire-creeper of prema for the prince of Vraja sprout and is celebrated for bearing the flower of service to the svamini Srimati Radhika. May that supremely charming Radha-kunda be my shelter.
"Gloroiusly manifest on the banks of Radha-kunda are eight kunjas (groves) named after Radhika's principal sakhis. Acting as stimuli for the amorous pastimes of the Divine Couple, these kunjas are filled with the sweet humming of bumblebees and are desired by everyone. May that supremely enchanting Radha-kunda be the shelter of my life.
"Situated on an exquisite dais on the bank of Radha-kunda and accompanied by Her beloved sakhis, our svamini Srimate Radhika charmingly engages in sweet, joking words with Sri Krishna, the moon of Vraja. These playful verbal exchanges are enhanced by the suggestion of so many innuendoes. May that Radha-kunda be the shelter of my life.
"May that very charming and especially fragrant Radha-kunda, where intoxicated with love the Divine Couple and the sakhis daily sport with great joy in the water so fragrant with exquisite lotus flowers, be the sole shelter of my life.
"To that devotee who, in a resolute mood of aspiring to serve Srimati Radhika, reads this charming prayer describing Sri Radha-kunda, even in their present body Sri Krishna will quickly grant them darshana of not only His beloved Radhika, but also of their many variegated amorous pastimes. Witnessing these pastimes and envisioning himself serving Yugala-kishora (Krsna) in various ways, such a devotee will feel immense jubilation. This astaka is recited in the poetic meter known as 'Malini'."
Sri Radhikastakam
Eight Prayers Glorifying Sri Radhika
Written by Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami
Text 1
rasa-valita-mrgaksi-mauli-manikya-laksmih pramudita-muravairi-prema-vapi-marali vraja-vara-vrsabhanoh punya-girvana-valli snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who is a splendid ruby in the crown of all nectarean doe-eyed girls, a swan swimming in the lake of love for jubilant Lord Krsna, and a celestial vine sprouted from Vraja's exalted King Vrsabhanu, bathe me in Her service?
Text 2
sphurad-aruna-dukula-dyotitodyan-nitamba- sthalam abhi vara-kanci-lasyam ullasayanti kuca-kalasa-vilasa-sphita-mukta-sara-srih snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who makes the sash of bells dance on Her hips splendid with red silk, and whose necklace of large pearls plays on the waterpots of Her breasts, bathe me in Her service?
Text 3
sarasija-vara-garbhakharva-kantih samudyat- tarunima-ghanasaraslista-kaishora-sidhuh dara-vikasita-hasya-syandi-bimbadharagra snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who is as splendid as a great lotus whorl, who is new nectar mixed with the camphor of youth, and whose bimba fruit lips blossom with a gentle smile, bathe me in Her service?
Text 4
ati-catulataram tam kananantar milantam vraja-nrpati-kumaram viksya sanka-kulaksi madhura-mridu-vacobhih samstuta netra-bhangya snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who, accidentally meeting restless Krsna in the outskirts of the forest, stared at Him with suspicious eyes as he cast amorous glances at Her and flattered Her with many sweet and gentle words, bathe me in Her service?
Text 5
vraja-kula-mahilanam prana-bhutakhilanam pasupa-pati-grhinyah krsna-vat-prema-patram su-lalita-lalitantah-sneha-phullantaratma snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who the girls of Vraja love as much as their own lives, who the gopa queen Yasoda loves as much as Lord Krsna, and who makes the heart of charming lalita blossom with love, bathe me in Her service?
Text 6
niravadhi sa-visakha sakhi-yutha-prasunaih srajam iha racayanti vaijayantim vanante agha-vijaya-varorah-preyasi sreyasi sa snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who in the company of Visakha at the forest's edge strings a Vaijayanti garland from the flowers of many trees, and who is the beautiful beloved resting on Lord Krsna's handsome chest, bathe me in Her service?
Text 7
prakatita-nija-vasam snigdha-venu-pranadair druta-gati-harim arat prapya kunje smitaksi sravana-kuhara-kandum tanvati namra-vaktra snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who smelling the fragrance of Lord Krsna and hearing the sweet sounds of His flute, ran to Him in the forest grove and, scratching Her ears, approached Him with smiling eyes and lowered face, bathe me in Her service?
Text 8
amala-kamala-raji-sparsa-vata-prasite nija-sarasi nidaghe sayam ullasiniyam parijana-gana-yukta kridayanti bakarim snapayatu nija-dasye radhika mam kada nu
When will Sri Radhika, who on a summer evening happily plays with Lord Krsna by Her own lake cooled by breezes touching the many splendid lotuses, bathe me in Her service?
Text 9
pathati vimala-ceta mista-radhastakam yah parihrita-nikhilasa-santatih katarah san pasupa-pati-kumarah kamam amoditas tam nija-jana-gana-madhye radhikayas tanoti
Pleased with any person who, abandoning all hope of material happiness, and overwhelmed (with love), reads this sweet Sri Radhikastaka with a pure heart, the prince of Vraja (Krsna) of His own accord places him among Sri Radha's personal associates.