Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Pranam Mantra:
govinda bhashya karam sri gaudiya acarya bhashkaram
baladeva prabhum vande vidyabhushana sanjnakam
“I offer my humble obeisances unto the great master Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa who is like the sun amongst Gaudiya Acharyas and is very dear to Lord Govindajī having been chosen by Him to compose the Govinda Bhashya commentary on Vedanta.”
Appearance and Identity of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana Prabhu appeared in a Khandaita family of Orissa (a farmer or mercantile class) in the early part of the eighteenth century. At an early age he set out for pilgrimage and study. He practised grammar and rhetoric under the guidance of a scholar near Chilka Lake. After studying nyaya (logic) with special efforts, he studied the Vedas for a long time. Later he studied Shankara and Madhva school of Vedanta very carefully.
Conquest of Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana acquired erudition in Vedanta and soon defeated his contemporary opponents. During this period, he received initiation into Madhva lineage and accepted the renounced order. Thereafter he defeated all Vedantic scholars from North to South India and received letters of victory for his conquests.
Baladeva’s Entry into the Gaudiya Sampradaya
As Baladeva was an erudite scholar and a witful spiritual aspirant, many eminent Gaudiya personalities requested Srila Radha Damodara Goswami Mahasaya to duel with him. Srila Radha Damodara Goswami belonged to the Shyamanandi line. He was a learned scholar in Vedanta, especially in the Sat Sandarbhas of Srila Jiva Goswami. He composed the book “Vedanta Syamantaka” on Vedanta. He was an exalted Vaishnava as well. When they met and engaged in scriptural discussion, Baladeva was defeated. Baladeva then came to know that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He accepted the discipleship of Radha Damodara Goswami and studied Sat Sandarbhas under his guidance. Since he had already taken initiation into the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya line, his Madhva link remained intact.
Arrival at Sri Vrindavan Dham
By the mercy of Radha Damodara Goswami, Baladeva felt the glory of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His Gaudiya lineage. He understood the philosophical excellence of “Achintya-Bheda-Abheda” (inconceivable oneness and difference). He gave up his scholarly attitude and engaged in chanting with intense ecstasy. From Purushottama Dhama he came to Navadvipa to visit the places of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. From there he arrived at Vrindavan where he lived in seclusion performing Krishna bhajan.
Meeting with Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti
During this time Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura Mahashaya started his campaign to restore the lost glory of Vrindavan by teaching and propagating the philosophical works of the Goswamis and other associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Baladeva had a natural inclination to study shastras. He gradually became attracted to Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Under the guidance of Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, Baladeva started studying the Goswami literature and pursued his personal bhajan as well. Within a short time he acquired profound knowledge in Srimad Bhagavatam and the entire Goswami literature. In association with Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, Baladeva started teaching shastra intensely. Many students arrived at Vrindavan to study the shastras from him.
Role as a Teacher
Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura was very pleased to see Baladeva’s exalted practice of bhajana and erudition in the philosophical treatise of the Goswamis. He entrusted Baladeva with the responsibility of his institute and engaged in personal bhajana. Most of the time he would be involved in lila smarana and absorbed in samadhi (trance). During this period, Baladeva would teach his students. In this way Baladeva attained the complete mercy of Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti.
Journey to Jaipur to defend the Gaudiya Sampradaya
During that time the king of Jaipur performed the puja of Sri Govinda Dev before the Puja of Sri Narayana. Some Sri Vaishnavas wanted to change this tradition. As the king belonged to the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya, he summoned the Gaudiya Vaishnava scholars from Vrindavan.
Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti was very old at that time. He sent his student Baladeva as he was a great scholar in Vedic literature. As soon as Baladeva arrived at the court of Jaipur, the mahantas of Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya asked him which line he belonged to? Baladeva replied that he belonged to Madhva Sampradaya and followed the Madhva school of Vedanta. They again asked, Sri Madhvacarya’s school accepts Sri Krishna only but not Sri Radha. Will Sri Govinda ji accept puja without Sri Radha? Baladeva understood that Madhvacarya’s commentary would not be helpful in this case.
Compilation of Govinda Bhasya
Baladeva promised that he would show the commentary on Vedanta to justify his arguments. He took shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Govinda Dev. Sri Govinda Dev appeared in his dream and instructed him to compile a commentary on Vedanta. Within a very short time, he completed his commentary on Vedanta. He wrote a separate commentary on Bhagavad Gita, named Gita Bhusana. He also commented on Gopala Tapani Upanishad and the ten principal Upanishads. Finally he represented these in the court of Jaipur. The opposing scholars were amazed to see Baladeva’s merit. All of them agreed to accept the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya as an authentic Vedantic school and as a branch of Madhva Sampradaya among the four bonafide Vaishnava lines as stated by Vyasa in Padma Purana. The former priests were re-employed at the service of Govinda Ji. From this time the responsibility of serving the other deities of Jaipur, Galta, Karauli and Vrindavan was entrusted to the Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
Earning the title “Vidyabhushana”
The king of Jaipur awarded the title “Vidyabhushana” to Baladeva. Before the argument, the opposing scholars promised that if Baladeva would defeat them, they would accept his discipleship wholeheartedly. When Baladeva won the contest, they desired to accept initiation from him but Baladeva was a humble Vaishnava and did not initiate them. Instead of this, he installed the deity of “Vijaya Gopala” and introduced a tradition of performing His arati first. He then left Jaipur and came back to Vrindavan.
Acquiring the Seat of Main Servitor of Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara
All Vaishnavas offered their gratitude to Baladeva for defending the prestige of the Gaudiya Vaishnava community. After that Sri Baladeva was engaged as the main priest of Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara Jiu as per the direction of Vrajajanananda Deva Goswami from Sripat Gopiballavpur. He again resumed his book composition. Since that day Sri Radha Shyamasundara’s aratika has been performed first.
Installing the Deity of Vijaya Govinda
After some days, Baladeva installed the deity of Vijaya Govinda in Vrindavan. He stated at the conclusion of Govinda Bhasya:
vidyarupam bhushanam me pradaya khyatim samarang ninye tan yo mamudarah
govindah svapno nirdisto bhasyo Radhabandhu bandhurangah sa jiyat
“He who is udara (the great bestower) gave me the title of “Vidyabhushana” and made me famous by that title. In a dream, He appeared before me in the form of Sri Govinda. He manifested the explanation of Vedanta through His own Shabda Brahma (transcendental sound). May He, the Lord who sports a three bending form, Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, prevail supremely victorious.”
Pancaratrika Guru Parampara of Baladeva Vidyabhushana
Sri Baladeva Vidyabhushana’s pancharatrika parampara belonged to the line of Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu who was an intimate associate of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. His parampara is as follows: (1) Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s associate Gauridasa Pandita, (2) Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu, (3) Shyamananda Prabhu (Dukhi Krishna Dasa), (4) Sri Rasika Murari, (5) Sri Radhananda Goswami, (6) Sri Nayanananda Goswami, (7) Sri Radha Damodara Goswami, (8) Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana Prabhu.
Literary Works
The following is a list of Baladeva Vidyabhushana’s major works:
1) Commentary on Brahma Sutra: Govinda Bhāṣya, 2) Siddhanta Ratna, 3) Prameya Ratnavali, 4) Siddhanta Darpana, 5) Sahitya Kaumudi, 6) Kavya Kaustubha, 7) Vyakarana Kaumudi (unavailable), 8) Pada Kaustubha, 9) Commentary on the 10th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam : Vaishnava Anandini, 10) Commentary on Gopala Tapani, 11) Commentary on the ten principal Upanishads, 12) Commentary on Bhagavad Gita: Gita Bhusana, 13) Commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama: Namartha Sudha, 14) Tippani on Sankshepa Bhagavatamrta: Saranga Rangada, 15) Tattva Sandarbha Commentary, 16) Commentary on Srila Rupa Goswami’s Stavamala: Stavamala Vibhushana, 17) Nataka Chandrika (unavailable), 18) Commentary on Chhanda Kaustubha, 19) Shyamananda Shataka Tika, 20) Chandraloka Tika (unavailable), 21) Sahitya Kaumudi Tika: Krishna Nandini, 22) Govinda Bhasya Tika: Sukshma, 23) Siddhanta Ratna Tika: Sukshma.
