Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami
“gaura govinda lilanvi pramatta rajahansam
krsnadasa prabhum vande rupa dasyeika jivitam”
Appearance and Identity:-
Very little information is available about the life of Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Although no specific information is available, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada mentioned some incidents and penned down some facts regarding his appearance, “From these incidents and other contemporary affairs, it is believed that he appeared between 1452 to 1538. The names of his parents and the clan from which he came have not been accurately ascertained. In Bengali Dictionary by Sri Ashutosh Dev and in Sri Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana by Sri Haridasa, Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami’s father’s name is “Bhagiratha” and mother’s name is “Sunanda”. It is known from Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami’s statement in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita that he had another brother. His name was Shyama Dasa Kaviraja according to Gaudiya Vaishnava Avidhana. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada writes in the introduction of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita:
“We do not know what name was given to the author of Sri Charitamrita by his parents. All the newly invented names of his parents are found, can not be ascertained as genuine. He was known as “Krishna Das” in his spiritual life. In chapter 5 of Adi Lila of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, he gave a self-identification. From this, we can say that he was born in a village called Jhamtapura. Jhamtapura village is Naihati, currently located near Salar railway station, two Krosha west from a village near Nolepur and Katwa under Burdwan district. A daily service of Sri Gaura-Nityananda still exists there in memory of his earlier household life.
Reasons for receiving the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu:-
Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami mentioned the reason for receiving the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and his glories in Chapter 5 of Adilila in Chaitanya Charitamrita.
, an intimate associate of Lord Nityananda Prabhu also resided in Jhamtapura. Sri Minaketana Ramadasa was invited to Kaviraja Goswami’s house to attend sankirtana. Sri Minaketana Ramadasa was an exalted devotee. He was always absorbed in the names of Lord Nityananda. Sometimes he used to hit people with his flute or slap in ecstasy. All Vaishnavas were amazed to see his ecstasy. They offered respectful obeisances to him. A brahmin, Gunarnava Mishra was engaged in deity worship during the festival in Kaviraja Goswami’s house. He could not understand Rama Dasa’s miraculous pastimes. He considered them materialistic craziness and committed great offence at the lotus feet of Rama Dasa. He showed less respect towards Nityananda Prabhu as well. Sri Minaketana Ramadasa became angry and chastised him:
“‘ei ta’ dvitīya sūta romaharaṣaṇa
baladeva dekhi’ ye nā kaila pratyudgama’“
Translation: “Here I find the second Romaharṣaṇa-sūta, who did not stand to show honour when he saw Lord Balarāma.”
Shri Gunarnava Mishra realised his mistake and repented. After the festival, when the priest left, Minaketana Ramadasa had an argument with Kaviraja Goswami’s brother. Kaviraja Goswami’s brother had firm faith in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. But he did not have the same faith in Nityananda Prabhu. He broke his flute. After his departure Kaviraja Goswami’s brother fell down. Kaviraja Gosvami took the side of Lord Nityananda’s associate Ramadasa and reprimanded his brother.
“dui bhāi eka-tanu — samāna-prakāśa
nityānanda nā māna, tomāra habe sarva-nāśa“
Translation: “These two brothers,” I told him, “are like one body; They are identical manifestations. If you do not believe in Lord Nityānanda, you will fall down.
“ekete viśvāsa, anye nā kara sammāna
“ardha-kukkuṭī-nyāya” tomāra pramāṇa“
Translation: If you have faith in one but disrespect the other, your logic is like the logic of accepting half a hen.
“kiṁvā, doṅhā nā māniñā hao ta’ pāṣaṇḍa
eke māni’ āre nā māni, — ei-mata bhaṇḍa“
Translation: “It would be better to be an atheist by slighting both brothers than a hypocrite by believing in one and slighting the other.”
Bhagavan is called bhaktadhina i.e. He is controlled by the devotion of His devotees. He appreciates even the slightest indifference to the devotee and offers everything to those who are biassed to His devotees. Srila Kaviraja Goswami writes, he took the side of Nityananda Prabhu’s associate Sri Minaketana Ramadasa and rebuked his brother; Nityananda Prabhu appreciated this and appeared in his dream and ordered him to go to Vrindavan.
“āre āre kṛṣṇadāsa, nā karaha bhaya
vṛndāvane yāha, — tāṅhā sarva labhya haya“
Translation: “O my dear Kṛṣṇadāsa, do not be afraid. Go to Vṛndāvana, for there you will attain all things.”
“eta bali’ prerilā more hātasāni diyā
antardhāna kaila prabhu nija-gaṇa lañā“
Translation: After saying this, He directed me toward Vṛndāvana by waving His hand. Then He disappeared with His associates.
After receiving the command of Sri Nityananda in the dream, he left Jhamtapura and lived in Sri Vrindavan till the last day of his life.
Composition of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita:-
Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura described the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in brief initially. Then he started describing in detail. But he was worried about the increasing volume of his book and did not describe some pastimes. He was also focused on glorifying Sri Nityananda Prabhu. In this way the final pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained undescribed. That is why the devotees of Vrindavan, who have dedicated their everything to Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu, were anxious to hear His final pastimes. They requested Srila Kaviraja Gosvami to compose a book on this. Being requested by the devotees of Vrindavan, he went to the temple of Madana Gopala to beg for His permission. As soon as he prayed for the instruction of Sri Madana Gopala, the garland fell from the Lord’s neck. All the Vaishnavas witnessed it. They shouted, uttering the names of Lord Hari. The priest of Sri Madana Gopala brought that garland and put it on Kaviraja Goswami’s neck. He was delighted to receive the ajna mala of Madana Gopala and started writing the book.
He wrote in humility:
“ei grantha lekhāya more ‘madana-mohana’
āmāra likhana yena śukera paṭhana“
Translation: Actually Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta is not my writing but the dictation of Śrī Madana-mohana. My writing is like the repetition of a parrot.
“sei likhi, madana-gopāla ye likhāya
kāṣṭhera puttalī yena kuhake nācāya“
Translation: As a wooden doll is made to dance by a magician, I write as Madana-gopāla orders me to do so.
Regarding this, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura said – “Svarupa Damodara Goswami wrote the Kadaca on Mahaprabhu’s final pastimes. He stored them in the heart of Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. Kaviraja Goswami memorised them and propagated them through his writings. Therefore there was no written form of Svarupa Damodara’s Kadaca. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita is its final written form.
Srimati Radharani reveals Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami’s identity:-
The famous commentator Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti described Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami as an intimate associate of Srimati Radharani. So the knowledge of Godhead automatically manifests in his heart. Therefore his words are authentic. But Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti could not understand why Srila Kaviraja Goswami said Kama Gayatri has twenty and half syllables instead of twenty five. Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti became very confused. He took the decision to give up his body on the shores of Radha Kunda. In the middle of the night, Srimati Radharani appeared in his dream. He saw – Shri Vrishabhanu-nandini herself came to him and saying – “O Vishvanatha, O Harivallabha, get up. What Krishnadasa Kaviraja has written is true. He is my intimate gopi companion. By my mercy, he knows everything of my heart. Do not doubt his words. Then she explained why Kama Gayatri has twenty-four and a half syllables instead of twenty-five.
Books written by Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami:-
Srila Kaviraja Goswami composed many valuable books like Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Govinda Lilamrita and Saranga Rangada commentary of Krishna Karnamrita. These are the precious gems of Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. Sri Krishna’s eightfold pastimes are described in Sri Govinda lilamrta.
Disappearance of Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami:-
Srila Kaviraja Goswami re-entered the eternal pastimes of Sri Radha & Krishna after the disappearance of Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. He left this material world on the 12th day (Dvadashi) of the bright fortnight of Ashvina month. A very small footprint temple of Sri Nityananda Prabhu is present at Kaviraja Goswami’s Sripata in Jhamtapura. Deities of Nityananda and Gauranga Mahaprabhu are served there. A pair of wooden footwear is believed to have been used by Kaviraja Goswami himself. His Bhajana kutira and samadhi are in Radha Kunda.
