Samadhi of Visvanatha Cakravarti
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
Entombed here is the sacred body of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, who disappeared in the year 1708. He was the greatest acarya during the seventeenth century and his contribution to the Gaudiya Vaisnava movement of Lord Caitanya is unparalleled. He was born in 1638. As a boy he became an expert scholar in Sanskrit, poetry and rhetoric and was undefeated in argument and debate.
Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura (Hari Vallabha Dasa) came in the disciplic succession from Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura. Visvanatha took diksa from Sri Radha Raman Cakravarti. Although married, Visvanatha was indifferent and soon renounced family life. He came to Vrndavana dhama and did Krsna bhajana at Radha-kunda.
He was known as "the crest jewel of the Vaisnavas "because of his pure devotion, scholarship, and realized perception of Radha Gokulananda's intimate conjugal pastimes. Gaudiya authorities say that Sri Rupa Gosvami is vag-devavatara (an incarnation of the god of speech). And Gaudiya acaryas, especially among his direct disciples, believe that Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura is an incarnation of Sri Rupa Gosvami.
Among all Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas only Visvanatha Cakravarti comes close to matching Srila Rupa Gosvami's profound realizations on the Absolute Truth. Visvanatha Cakravarti's name itself implies his position. Visvanatha means, "He who reveals the jewel of devotion to Visvanatha (Sri Krsna, the Lord of the universe)." Cakravarti means "he who expands the cakra (circle) of bhakti."
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, "Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura was the protector, guardian, and acarya during the middle period (1600-1700) of the historical development of Gaudiya Vaisnavism." The growth of Gaudiya Vaisnavism began with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It was later rejuvenated by Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda, spread by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and broadcast all over the world by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON.
During his stay in Vrndavana, Visvanatha worshiped Deities of Radha Gokulananda and Sri Giriraja. His Govardhana sila was first worshiped by Lord Caitanya, then Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja, Sri Mukunda Dasa, Srimati Krishna Priya Thakurani, and Visvanatha Carkavarti. Today this Giriraja Govardhana Deity resides in the Radha-Gokulananda temple in Vrndavana. Some claim the Govardhan sila is in "Bhagavat Nivas" in Ramana Reti near the ISKCON Krishna Balarama Mandir.
Radha Gokulananda
The Deity of Gokulananda was given to Visvanatha by a brahmacari who, while visiting Mathura, had a dream in which the Lord appeared and ordered him to hand over his small Deity of Gokulananda to Visvanatha. The brahmacari immediately came to Vrndavana and offered the beautiful Deity of Gokulananda to Visvanatha. At first Visvanatha refused on account of being a mendicant, saying he could not properly worship the Deity. That night the Lord appeared in Visvanatha's dream and informed him that the 'Lord Himself would provide the necessary food for offering. "You just serve Me in what ever way you can and this will give Me the greatest happiness." The brahmacari also had another dream where the Lord told him to return again and this time Visvanatha would accept the worship of the Deity. Visvanatha also worshiped for sometime the Goverdhana-sila belonging to Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Both these Deities can be seen in the Radha Gokulananda temple.
In a dream Lord Sri Krishna ordered Visvanatha to make commentaries on the Gosvami's books. Immediately, he started writing prolifically. Clouds would shield him from the sun whenever he sat to write. Once a torrential downpour flooded the area where Visvanatha was writing his Bhagavata commentaries. Miraculously, not a drop touched Visvanatha or his Bhagavata manuscript.
While compiling Mantratha Dipika (explanation on Kama Gayatri), Visvanatha became perplexed. According to his exhausative research which indicated twenty five, he couldn't substantiate why Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote in Caitanya-caritamrta that Kama Gayatri contains twenty-four and one-half syllables. And that these syllables correspond to the twenty-four and one-half moons present on Krishna's transcendental body.
In a dream Srimati Radhika instructed Visvanatha, "O Visvanatha, please don't lament anymore. What Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote is true. He is also My confidential maidservant. And he knows everything about My most secret innermost moods. This Kama Gayatri is the mantra for worshiping Me. Indded, I can be known by the syllables of this mantra. Without My mercy, no one can learn anything about the mystery of this mantra."
"The solution to the half syllable is found in the book Varnagama-bhasvadi. Seeing this book, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote as he did. The letter ya which is followed by the letter vi as in the words kama devaya vidmahe is considered to be a half syllable. This falls on Krishna's forehead because His forehead is shaped like the halo of a half moon. All the other letters of the mantra are full syllables and therefore full moons. Now wake up, check that book, and compile this evidence for everyone's benefit."
Instantly awaking, Visvanatha cried out in ecstasy--"Hey Radhe! Hey Radhe! Hey Radhe!" Having Radharani's darsana infused Visvanatha Cakravarti's writing with divine sakti. He felt that he had been accepted as one of Srimate Radharani's confidential maidservants. His writings reflected this realization.
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura wrote over forty Sanskrit books on the science of pure devotion to Radha-Giridhari. He also made the sweetest, most highly realized rasika tikas (commentaries) on Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, the works of Srila Rupa Gosvami, Kavi Karnapura, and Narottama Dasa Thakura.
In Krishna Lila he serves Srimati Radhika as Vinoda-manjari. His samadhi is in the Radha Gokulananda temple courtyard.