Sri Lokanatha Goswami
I worship Sri Lokanatha Prabhu, the son of Sri Padmanabha, who possessed
great wealth of devotion to Sri Sri Radha-vinoda, and always engaged in Their
service.
Srila Loknatha Gosvami was born in the village of Talkhari, within the district
of Jessore, Bangladesh, as the son of Sri Padmanabha Bhattacarya and his wife,
Sri Sita devi. Talkhari can be reached from Sonakhali and Khejura.
Sri Padmanabha Bhattacarya was a devoted follower of Sri Adwaita Acarya, who was
very fond of Sri Padmanabha. The younger brother of Lokanatha was Pragalbha
Bhattacarya. His descendants are still residing at Talkhari.
From his childhood Lokanath was disinterested in worldly affairs. He decided to
leave his home and came to Navadwip to have darshan of Mahaprabhu. Sri
Gaursundara very lovingly embraced Lokanath and instructed him to go to
Vrindavana as soon as possible. Lokanath could understand that Mahaprabhu would
renounce His family life within a few days and he was aggrieved at this.
Mahaprabhu consoled him and told him that they would meet again in Vrindavana.
"With tears flowing from his eyes Lokanath offered his obeisances to Mahaprabhu.
The all-omniscient Lord lovingly embraced him and after explaining some hidden
truths to him, He instructed him to go to Vrindavana. Thus Lokanatha, after
surrendering his self at the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu, set out for Vrindavana.
[B. R. 1st Taranga]
Lokanatha never returned home. Being afflicted greatly by separation from the
Lord, he set out to tour the holy places, and then finally came to Vrindavana.
Meanwhile Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa and then came to Nilacala.
After some time, when Mahaprabhu set out on His tour of South India, Lokanatha,
having received this news also journeyed to the south. Then Mahaprabhu came to
Vrindavana; Lokanatha followed Him there. But by the time he reached VrajaÂbhumi,
Mahaprabhu had already left for Prayaga. Lokanatha was extremely sad. Again
having missed darshan of his Prabhu, He decided to leave the next morning for
Prayaga.
In a dream however, Prabhu came to console Lokanatha and requested him to stay
at Vrindavana. Thus Lokanatha remained at Vrajadhama, not wanting to neglect the
order of Mahaprabhu. He stayed alone, his presence unknown to anyone. But after
some days he met the dear disciples of Mahaprabhu - Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatana, Sri
Gopal Bhatta, Sri Bhugarbha, and others. They were all very affectionate to one
another and it was as though they were of one mind.
Amongst the Goswamis, Lokanatha was the eldest. He was always intensely absorbed
in loving ecstatic mellows. In Hari bhakti vilasa we find this verse: "I worship
Srimate Kasisvara, Srimate Lokanath and Srimad Krsna das Kaviraj, who have taken
shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Govinda and who are very dear to Sri Vrindavana."
Lokanatha Goswami used to visit the many places of Krsna's pastimes within
Vrajadhama and in this way he was always absorbed in intense ecstasy. Lokanath
came to the banks of Kisori-kunda within the village of Umrao, by the side of
Chatrabon, and remained there for a few days. Lokanatha wanted very much to be
able to worship the Deity form of the Lord, and Sri Krsna, who is within the
heart of everyone, thus presented a Deity form of Himself to Lokanatha to
worship. This Deity's name is Radha-Vinoda. Having received this Deity, Lokanath
looked up to see who had brought Him, but seeing no one present he began to
reflect on the mystery of His appearance.
Seeing Lokanatha deep in thought, Radha-Vinoda laughed, "Who would have brought
Me here! I have come Myself! I live here on the banks of Kisori kunda and this
is My village - Umrao. Now please give me some thing to eat."
Lokanatha was beside himself with bliss and being immersed in that ecstasy, he
prepared some foodstuffs and offered them to Radha-Vinoda. Then he made a bed of
flowers and made the Deity lie down to take rest. He fanned the Deity with some
leaves and meditated on massaging the lotus feet of his Lord. Having surrendered
his body, mind and very life itself, he was totally absorbed as though drinking
a flow of honey-like nectar.
Lokanatha Goswami had no permanent abode. Some Vrajavasi villagers wanted to
build a little hut for him but he wouldn't agree. He made a bag for Radha-Vinoda
which he kept around his neck. Radha-Vinoda was as though a rare gem suspended
on a necklace round the neck of Lokanatha. His activities represented the crest
jewel of asceticism and the other Goswamis managed to keep him in their company
only by great endeavour.
It is very difficult to describe the character of Lokanatha Goswami, who was so
dear to Mahaprabhu. When Mahaprabhu and some of the other Goswamis began their
pastimes of disappearance, Lokanatha maintained his life only due to the desire
of Mahaprabhu. Sri Lokanatha Goswami initiated Narottama dasa Thakur Mahasaya in
the divine mantra. There is no mention anywhere of any other disciple of his. It
is not possible to describe the care with which Narottama Thakura served his
guru. In the early morning he would clean the place where his guru passed stool
and urine.
Lokanatha Goswami, having become quite advanced in years, entered into his
eternal pastimes, while residing at Khadir bon (Khoyra gram). There is a large
lake there called Sri Yugal kunda on the banks of which his samadhi has been
established. His worshipable Deities Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda are at present being
worshiped in Jaipur, Rajasthan. His puspa samadhi is within the courtyard of Sri
Gokulananda Mandira.
It is said that Srila Krsna das Kaviraja Goswami approached Lokanatha Goswami
for his blessings and any information that he might be able to supply in order
that he might satisfactorily compose Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. At that time,
Lokanatha forbade Kaviraj Goswami to mention his name or describe anything about
him. In order to honor the request of this great Vaisnava, he therefore didn't
write anything about him. His disappearance is on the eighth day of the bright
fortnight in the month of Sravan.
Sri Narottama dasa Thakur Mahasaya has prayed at the lotus feet of his guru as
follows: "Oh My Lord, Lokanatha! Please keep me at your feet, and if it pleases
you, please let your glance of mercy fall upon me. I have a great longing that
my mind's desires might be fulfilled. Wherever one gets the association of Lord
Caitanya, there also he gets the association of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. If you are
not merciful to me, then who will be? This time, please fulfill my mind's
desires. In the three worlds I have no one other than you. Please keep me near
your lotus feet, where I might hear, day and night, your songs describing the
lila of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Without you, the desire of Narottama cannot be
fulfilled."
Note: Special thanks to Jaya Tirtha Caran prabhu from NZ for allowing us to use some of the content from his site to compile these pages - http://www.hknet.org.nz
Home
| About the Calendar
| Desktop Reminder Program Downloads
Desktop
Reminder CSV Location Files |
Add the Calendar to Your
Website | Tell a
Friend
Look up
Future Events - Web Calendar Community
Poster
Info - Festivals, Personalities, Ekadasi |
Links
| Contact
Us
