Among the great saints of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition, Śrīla Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī shines as an extraordinary example of renunciation, humility, and unwavering love for Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. One of the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, he dedicated his entire life to the loving service of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.
Born into an immensely wealthy family in Bengal, Śrīla Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī possessed everything the material world could offer. Yet his heart longed for something far greater—the mercy and association of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. Despite repeated attempts by his family to keep him engaged in worldly life, his desire for spiritual service remained unshaken.
By the mercy of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, he eventually received the opportunity to leave home and join Mahāprabhu in Jagannātha Purī. There, under the guidance of Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, he served the Lord with profound humility and devotion. Mahāprabhu personally entrusted him with a Govardhana-śilā and a garland of guñjā beads, sacred gifts that deepened his remembrance of the Divine Couple.
After Mahāprabhu’s disappearance, Śrīla Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī went to Vṛndāvana and eventually settled at the sacred banks of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. His life became a remarkable example of intense bhajana, constant chanting of the holy names, and deep absorption in the service of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.
His profound devotional writings, including Vilāpa-kusumāñjali and Manaḥ-śikṣā, reveal the heart of a devotee longing for the mercy and loving service of Rādhārāṇī. He is revered as the prayojana-ācārya, one who teaches the ultimate goal of spiritual life: pure love of God.
Śrīla Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī’s life reminds us that true wealth lies not in material possessions, but in a heart wholly surrendered to the Lord. His example continues to inspire devotees to cultivate humility, deepen their chanting, and aspire for the selfless service of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.
May we pray for his mercy, that we too may develop a sincere longing to serve the Lord and follow the path of pure devotion shown by the great Vaiṣṇava ācāryas.
Among the exalted Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī shines as a remarkable example of humility, purity, and loving service to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
His life teaches us that devotion is not measured by the number of books one writes or the extent of one’s scholarship, but by the sincerity with which one serves the Lord, the Vaiṣṇavas, and the holy name.
Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was born around 1505 CE in Rāmapura, on the banks of the Padma River in East Bengal. His father, Tapana Miśra, was a devoted Vaiṣṇava and an intimate associate of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
From childhood, Raghunātha was deeply attracted to spiritual life and became highly learned in Sanskrit, grammar, and the scriptures.
When Mahāprabhu visited the home of Tapana Miśra, young Raghunātha lovingly served Him in the simplest ways. He massaged the Lord’s feet and carefully cleaned the place where Mahāprabhu had taken His meal. Though these services were simple, they were performed with profound love, and they won the affection of Lord Gaurāṅga.
Later, Raghunātha travelled to Jagannātha Purī, where he had the great fortune of serving Mahāprabhu personally. For several months he cooked for the Lord and received His intimate blessings. Mahāprabhu eventually gave him a Tulasī garland from His own neck, a precious sign of His mercy and affection.
After the departure of his parents from this world, Raghunātha returned to Jagannātha Purī and again devoted himself to Mahāprabhu’s service.
Seeing his sincere devotion, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu gave him a profound instruction: he should go to Vṛndāvana, take shelter of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, and deeply study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Following the order of his beloved Lord, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa went to Vṛndāvana and dedicated his life to hearing and speaking the glories of Kṛṣṇa.
Thus, he became one of the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, who established the teachings, practices, and sacred places of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism.
Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī was especially renowned for his extraordinary recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
His voice was deeply melodious, and when he recited the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, listeners would become overwhelmed with spiritual emotion. He did not seek fame or intellectual recognition. His entire life was an offering of love to Kṛṣṇa.
He was also distinguished by his complete refusal to criticize others. His heart was absorbed in glorifying the Lord, leaving no room for fault-finding.
His life embodied the spirit of humility, Vaiṣṇava respect, and constant absorption in the holy name.
Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī did not leave behind a large collection of philosophical writings like some of the other Gosvāmīs. Instead, his contribution was expressed through hearing, chanting, reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and inspiring others through his pure example.
Among those connected with his spiritual legacy was Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, the great author of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, as well as the celebrated poet Gadādhara Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī.
His disciples also established worship of Gaura-Govinda in Vṛndāvana. His sacred memories continue to be honoured there, including his pādukas and the Tulasī garland associated with Mahāprabhu.
The life of Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī reminds us that pure devotional service is ultimately a matter of the heart.
He served without seeking recognition. He spoke the glories of Kṛṣṇa without seeking prestige. He heard and recited Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with such devotion that others were naturally drawn toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
On his disappearance day, we can honour this great Vaiṣṇava by following the path he demonstrated—chanting the holy names, hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, serving the Vaiṣṇavas, avoiding criticism, and humbly carrying out the instructions of our spiritual masters.
May the mercy of Śrīla Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī inspire us to develop the same simplicity, humility, and deep love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Śrī Madhvācārya, one of the great ācāryas of the Vaiṣṇava tradition, appeared in Uḍupi, Karnataka, in the 13th century. From his childhood, he displayed extraordinary spiritual strength, intelligence and unwavering devotion to Lord Viṣṇu.
Accepting the renounced order, he became known as Ānanda Tīrtha and dedicated his life to proclaiming the eternal truth that Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that every living being is eternally His servant.
Through his travels, teachings and writings, Madhvācārya fearlessly defended devotional service and established the philosophy of Dvaita, emphasizing the eternal distinction between the Supreme Lord and the individual soul.
Śrī Madhvācārya holds a special place in the Brahma-Madhva-Gauḍīya sampradāya, the disciplic succession through which the teachings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu have been lovingly carried from one generation to the next.
His life was one of courage, scholarship and, above all, devotion. He reminded the world that the ultimate purpose of knowledge is to awaken our eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord and lovingly serve Him.
On his appearance day, let us remember this great ācārya with gratitude and pray for the mercy to remain firmly connected to guru, sādhu and śāstra, and to deepen our devotion to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
All glories to Śrī Madhvācārya, the great servant of Lord Viṣṇu!
Maharaj Yudhisthira said O Madhusudan what is the name of the Ekadasi that occures during the waxing moon in the monthof September/October. Please be kind and explain this to me .
Lord Krishna replied, O best of the Kings! The name of this Ekadasi is Pasankusa Ekadasi. Now please hear from me the glories of this Ekadasi which distroyes all ones sins. Some people also callthis Ekadasi as Papankusa Ekadasi. One should specially worship lord Padmanabha onthe day of this Ekadasi. This Ekadasi awards a person the heavenly pleasures liberation and his desired results. Just by chanting the holy namesof Lord Vishnu one can attain all the peity of visiting all the holy places on the earth. If a conditioned soul inspite of indulging in varioussinful activities due to illusion takes shelter and offers obeisances at the lotus feet of Lord Hari who is expert in delivering the fallen souls thensuch a person does not have to go to hell.
Those Vaisnavas who criticise Lord Shiva and those Saivaites who criticise lord Vishnu are both undoubtedly go to hell. The resultone obtains by performing one thousand horse sacrifices or by performing one hundred Rajasuya sacrifices can not be equal to the one sixteenth portion of peity one obtains by following this Ekadasi. There is no peity in this world which is equal to the peity earned by observing the Ekadasi. Therefore there is no other day as santified as this day of Ekadasi which is very dear to Lord Padmanabha.
O King! As soon as a person fails to observe Ekadasis the sins begin to reside in his body. This Ekadasi awards its follower the heavenly pleasure ,liberation, freed from deceased condition, beautiful women, wealth and food grains. O maintainer of the earth! If one observesthis Ekadasi and remains awake on that night easily goes to theabode of Lord Vishnu.
Lord Krishna continued O best of the Kings! By observing the vow of this Ekadasi one can deliver ten generations from his mothers family , ten generations from his fathers family and ten generations fromhis wifes family. If a person observes this Ekadasi either in his chilhood or youthhood or in his oldage he does not suffer the miseries of thematerial existence. One who strictly observes this Pasankusa or Papankusa Ekadasi then all his sinful reactions are eradicated and at the end of hislife he reaturns to the abode of Lord Vishnu. If a person gives away gold,sesame seeds, land,cow, food grains,water, umbrella or shoes in charitythen such a person does not have to goo to the abode of Yamaraj. Any one whospents his day wiuthout engaging in pious activities he is like a dead manalthough he is breathing. His breathing is compared to the bellows of the blacksmith.
O best of the Kings! A person who digs well and lakes for the benefit of others, donates land and houses and perform other pious activities such as performing sacrifices is not subjected to the punishment of Yamaraja. As a result of peity only people live long lives, become rich, take birth in high class families and become deseaseless. The purport is that the direct result of observing Ekadasi is to attain devotional service to Krishna and the indirect result is to attain the temporary material benefits.
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Pasankusa Ekadashi from the sacred ‘Brahma-vaivartha Purana’
