Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura
Gaudiya rasikacharyam Kavikula shiromanim
Vishwanatha Prabhum Vande Rupanuga rasashrayam.
The wave of divine love bestowed by Lord Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu flooded the entire world. Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura was infused with that ecstatic love. As the ultimate fruit of Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura’s lineage, Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti appeared in this material world. A new age dawned in the Gaudiya Vaishnava society with the miraculous power and genius of Vishvanatha Chakravarti. After the disappearance of Goswami in Vrindavana, Vishvanatha played the role of sovereign Acharya in Vraja Mandala. He protected the Gaudiya Vaishnava sect from several pitfalls. He was an erudite scholar, a great philosopher, an exalted devotee, proficient in rasa, best poet, and the crest jewel of all Vaishnavas.
Appearance of Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura:-
Srila Vishwanatha Chakravarti Thakura’s father was Sri Rama Narayana Chakravarti. He appeared at Devagrama, in Nadia District. He studied grammar, poetry, and rhetoric in Devagrama in his childhood. Later he came to Saiyadabad, a village on the bank of Ganga, to study Bhakti literature.
Determination of the advent time of Srila Vishwanatha Chakraborty:-
Regarding the date of the appearance of Srila Viswanatha Chakraborty Thakura, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada wrote his opinion in an essay. At the end of the book Sri Krishna Bhavanamrita, he completed this book on the Full moon day of Phalguna Purnima in 1601 Shaka era. Again in the Sarartha Darshini, the commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, he mentioned that he finished this book in the month of Magha, 1626 Shaka. So if his appearance date is assumed to be the 1560 century and his disappearance is estimated to be the 1630 century, he manifested his pastimes for almost 70 years in this material world.
Panchratrika Guru pranali (disciplic succession) of Vishwanatha Chakraborty Thakura:-
Ganga Narayan Chakraborty, a disciple of Srila Narottam Thakura Mahasaya, had no son. He was a resident of Baluchar Gambhila. Vishnupriya was his only daughter. Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura had a well known disciple named Sri Ramakrishna Bhattacharya. Sri Krishna charana was his youngest son. Ganga Narayana adopted him as his own son. Sri Krishna Charan chakraborty had a son named Sri Radharaman Chakraborty who was his disciple also. Radharaman Chakraborty was the father of Viswanatha Chakravarti. Radharaman was his Mantra guru. Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti mentioned this at the beginning of Rasa pancadhyaya in Sarartha Darshini:
“Sri Ramakrishna Ganga charnan natva Gurunuru premnah
Srila Narottama natha Sri Gauranga Prabhum Naumi”
The verse says that he gave abbreviations of his predecessors : “Rama” for his own spiritual master Sri Radharaman Chakravarti. “Krishna” for parama guru Sri Krishna charana Chakraborty. “Ganga Charana” for Ganga Narayana Chakravarti. “Narottama Natha” means Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura and his guru Srila Lokanatha Goswami who received the mercy of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This is his guru parampara.
Studying scriptures and writings:-
After completing his study on scriptures, Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti stayed in Gurukula and started propagating and writing the commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam. The study of Sanskrit was gradually declining in Bengal. In general, the Vaishnavas became unable to comprehend the extensive Goswami literature. In Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami, the crest jewel of all Vaishnavas, recollected the summary of the entire vaishnava theology. Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura showed the method of sadhana in his two Bengali books, Prarthana & Prema Bhakti Chandrika. Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti saw that these two previous works might get polluted by apa siddhantas. He decided to write commentaries on these two. He authored three separate commentaries on three must read texts: Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu, Ujjvala Nilamani & Laghu Bhagavatamrta. They are called “Kirana- Vindu-Kana” together. He wrote these especially for those who in spite of being very eager to perform intense Bhajana and study the scriptures, are unable to understand the tough language of Goswami literature. He stayed in his gurukul in Saiyadabad and commented on many Goswami texts. Therefore in many of his texts the phrase “Saiyadabad nivasi Viswanatha sharmana” is found; He identified himself as “Viswanatha from Saiyadabad”.
Arrival at Sridham Vrindavan:-
A few days after he left his gurukula in Saiyadabad and came to Sridham Vrindavan. At that time the former beauty and prosperity of Sridham Vrindavan had deteriorated a lot. After the departure of Six Goswamis and their associates, the transcendental Dhama began to conceal its glories and beauty. The self manifested deities also left Vrindavan in the guise of Yavana violation. The famous temples were destroyed by the continuous attacks of the Muslim kings. The pious priests of the temples began to disperse to different places. Sri Vrindavan was darkened as soon as Sri Govinda, Gopinatha, Madana Mohana and Keshava Dev left. They were being served at Udaipur, Jaipur, Nathdwara by the local Hindu kings. For all these reasons the influence of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas in Sridham Vrindavan was waning.
Sri Vishwanatha’s determination to restore the lost glory of Vrindavan:-
Srila Viswanatha was very disappointed to see the state of Vrindavan. He was determined to restore the lost glory of the Dhama. At this time Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushan, a brilliant genius, arrived at Vrindavan. He was well versed in scriptures and an associate of
Srila Vishwanatha Chakravati. Under the guidance of Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti, he became proficient in Goswami texts. With his help, Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti started teaching Bhakti texts in Vrindavan. Students from various parts of the country gathered in groups in Vrindavan and started practising the scriptures. The lost glory of Vrindavan began to emerge again.
Having the darshan of Srimati Radharani and revealing the significance of Kama Gayatri:-
While composing the book “Mantrartha Dipika” on the bank of Radha Kunda, Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti fell into a doubt. Srila Kaviraja Goswami wrote in Chaitanya Charitamrita that Kama Gayatri has twenty four and a half syllables. 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 said – “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 in my heart. Do not doubt his words.” Then she explained why Kama Gayatri has twenty-four and a half syllables instead of twenty-five.
Receiving the Govardhana shila and Gunja mala of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami:-
Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave Śrī Govardhana Shila and Gunja mala to Śrīla Raghunatha Dasa Gosvāmī to serve them in a pure sattvika manner. Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami devotedly served them till his last day in his bhajan kutira near Radha Kunda. After his departure, his beloved disciple Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami took over this great service. When Srila Kaviraja Gosvami disappeared, his disciple Srila Mukunda dasa Gosvami received the service of the shila. Srila Ganganarayana Chakraborty Mahasaya’s daughter Sri Vishnupriya Devi had a daughter named Sri Krishnapriya Thakurani. She was an exalted devotee. She received this Govardhana Shila from Srila Mukunda Dasa. She served the shila with absolute love. Later, when Krishnapriya Thakurani attained extreme old age, she entrusted the service of this shila to Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura Mahasaya. At present this Shila is being served along with the deity of Gokulananda in his temple. The temple was established by Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura in Vrindavan.
Two important contributions:-
Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura had two important contributions:
1)Srila Hemlata Thakurani, daughter of Srinivasa Acharya, drove away Sri Rupa Kaviraja, an ascetic Vaishnava. Because Rupa Kaviraja belonged to the Gaudiya Vaishnava community but propagated a doctrine which went against the orthodox Gaudiya Vaishnava doctrine. His goal was to disregard the original Raga Marga and create a chaos. He opined that one can practise lila smarana (remembering confidential pastimes of Krishna) in bonded state. He was rejected by the Gaudiya Vaishnava community for propagating this wrong notion. In the commentary of third canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura refuted this argument and upheld the Rupanuga Siddhanta.
2)This Rupa Kaviraja raised another argument that the descendants of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acharya and any other associates of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, can never hold the title “Goswami” and initiate anybody in spite of being qualified. Only the renunciates have the autonomy on it, not the householders. A renunciate has an exclusive right on it, whether or not he is eligible, adhering to an authentic Acraya is Rupa Goswami’s lineage and following vaishnava rituals. Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura protested against such illegitimate doctrines. With various scriptural evidences, he proved that if an Acharya belongs to household and the lineage of previous Acharyas, if he properly knows Krsna Tattava i.e. a genuine follower of Sri Rupa and his adherents, then he can perform the role of an Acharya and also bear the title of “Goswami”. Although he was best among the renunciates, he never accepted the title “Goswami” out of humility. In this way, he displayed the loftiness of the title.
Literary works:-
Mahamahopadhyay Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura authored so many books. Some of them were lost due to the course of time. Here is a list of his available books:
Commentaries:
1)Sarartha Darshini (Commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam), 2) Sarartha Varshini (Commentary on Bhagavad Gita) 3) Ananda Chandrika (Commentary on Ujjvala Nilamani), 4)Sukha Vartini (commentary on Ananda Vrindavan Champu), 5) Sanskrit commentary on Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita 6) commentary on Prema Bhakti Chandrika of Narottama Dasa Thakura, 7) commentary on Vidagdha Madhava, 8) Suvodhini (commentary on Alamkara Kaustubha)
Collective books:
1)Gopala Tapani commentary, 2) Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu commentary, 3) Brahma Samhita commentary, 4) Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu Vindu, 5) Ujjvala Nilamani Kirana, 6) Bhagavatamrta Kana, 7) Kshanada Gita Chintamani,
Texts:
1)Krishna Bhavanamrta, 2)Camatkara Chandrika, 3) Gopi Premamrta 4)Stavamrta Lahari, 5)Prema-samputa, 6) Gauranga Lilamrta, 7) Swapna Vilasamrta, 8) Mantrartha Dipika, 9) Gauranga Ganga Chandrika, 10) Sankalpa Kalpadruma, 11) Raha vartman Chandrika, 12) Aisvarya Kadamvini, 13) Madhurya Kadamvini, 14) Vaishnava Bhagatamrta, 15) Vraja Riti Chintamani, 16) Radhika Dhyanamrta, 17) Rupa Chintamani, 18) Surata Kathamrta.
Disappearance:-
Srila Viswanatha Chakravarti Thakura disappeared on the fifth day of bright fortnight in the month of Magha 1673 CE at the age of one hundred years. He entered in the eternal pastimes in trace at Radha Kunda. His samadhi is still present in the temple premises of Sri Gokulananda, Vrindavan.
