Disappearance Of Srila Jiva Goswami 16th Jan 2021

“Hearing the Lord’s words, Jiva, with tears in his eyes, fell flat like a stick at Nityananda Prabhu’s feet and requested, You will show real mercy on this unworthy wretch if You Yourself take me on parikrama.” – Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya, by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa and Sri Vallabha were three brothers,all employed in the service of the Badsa Hussain Shah. Amongst the three, there was only one descendent, Sri Jiva. Having been rewarded richly by the Badsa for their sevices, their household life was very opulent, there was nothing lacking in whatever was necessary for the upbringing of their only son.

The house was illuminated by the effulgence of the child’s golden complexion; his eyes were like the expanded petals of the lotus; every part of his body was graced with a lustrous, radiant splendour.

When Sri Gaurasundara came to Ramakeli, Sri Jiva was blessed by having Darshana of His worship able lord, although he was just a baby at the time. Placing the dust of His lotus feet on the child’s head, Mahaprabhu indicated him to be the future sovereign preceptor of the Gaudiya sampradaya. Though he was only a child, Sri Jiva kept the form of the Lord, which fascinates all the world, within his heart.

As he grew up, while eating, lying down, in his dreams, while he was awake, always, he would meditate on that form. Later, when his father and uncles renounced their family life in order to be with Mahaprabhu, the only child, Sri Jiva, was left with his mother in the family palace at Fateyabad. Lying in her lap, which was wet with tears of separation, he gradually began to grow as the waxing moon. Seeing that the mother and the child’s face were always wet with tears, their friends also fell under the shadow of sadness and only with great difficulty managed to assuage their grief. Whenever Sri Jiva would remember his father and uncles, or the lotus feet of Sri Gaura Hari, he would lose consciousness and fall to the ground.

As he got a little older, Sri Jiva took up the worship of the Deities of Sri-Sri Rama-Krsna. He would carefully decorate Them and offer bhoga and arati, serving Them with his full attention. Even in his play, whatever games he played, were all connected with Sri krsna’s pastimes.

While studying under the local Panditas he became proficient in grammar, poetry and rhetoric. Noting his great intellect, his teachers commented, “Such brilliance is not often found in a child so young as this. No doubt he will be a very high-souled, saintly person.”

Even while engaged in his studies Jiva always thought of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga. Once he saw in a dream that Sri Rama-Krsna had taken the forms of Nitai-Gauranga and were dancing. [B.R.1.732] Giving him the dust of Their lotus feet, the Two Lords then disappeared. Having seen such a wonderful dream, Sri Jiva was consoled somewhat. Then he began to think, “When will I be able to crawl out of this well of family life and devote my full time and energy, my very self, to serving these two most magnanimous Lords?” But he was the only son of the family. Only in his company could his mother forget somewhat at the pangs of separation in her heart. When Sri Jiva learned that his father had given up his life on the banks of the Ganga, he was completely unsettled. After that his eyes were never dry. The family members and friends tried to console him but to little avail. Family life had become the source of his utter sadness. Someone suggested to Jiva to go to Navadwipa and bathe himself in the coolness emanating from the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda Prabhu so that his mind and body, burning with with grief, could be refreshed. Thus, Sri Jiva set out for Navadwipa with a group of pilgrims. [B.R.1/741]

Nityananda Prabhu, the omniscient Lord, could understand thatSri Jiva was on his way to Navadwipa. Therefore, He also left from Khardaha to Navadwipa. After a few days, Jiva arrived at Navadwipa. Seeing the beauty of that place he was charmed. Falling on the ground, he offered his dandavats to Mother Ganges. Inquiring from the villagers the directions to Mayapura, he learned that Nityananda Prabhu was residing at Srivasa Pandita’s house. Atlas arriving there, he fell at the door to offer his dandavats. Nityananda Prabhu came out with Srivasa Pandita and picked him up and embraced him, asking, “Are you the nephew of Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana?” As an answer, Jiva again fell on the ground at the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu. This time Nityananda Prabhu brought him in the house and began to inquire after the welfare of his family at Fateyabad. Then Sri Jiva was introduced to the devotees present in Navadwipa; he offered his salutations at their lotus feet. Everyone was very happy to meet the nephew of Sri Rupa and Sanatana. That day Sri Jiva received the remnants of Nityananda prabhu’s prasadam.

The next day, the two of them came to Saci Mata’a house. Seeingthe birthplace of Sri Gaurasundara, which was filled with such splendour, Sri Jiva was greatly pacified and fell on the ground to roll in the dust. In the large courtyard the devotees were singing songs praising the glories of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Seeing Nityananda Prabhu, everyone stood up and then fell, offering their dandavatsat His lotus feet. Then Jiva saw Saci Mata sitting on the veranda.

Dressed in white with silk chadder around her shoulders she looked radiant, the white of her hair blended with her white sari. Though her body trembled with old age and was very thin, still the courtyard was illuminated by her divine effulgence. Forgetting herself in remembrance of Sri Gaursundara, she was sitting with her eyes closed. Becoming aware that Nityananda Prabhu had arrived, she covered her head with her sari and called her servant. “Isana! Srpada has arrived. Please wash His feet.”After this was done, Nityananda offered namaskar to the mother of the Supreme Lord and took His seat. He then introduced Sri Jiva to her. Saci Mata placed her hand on his head to bless him, and Sri Jiva floated in the ocean of happiness. Saci Mata then requested the two of them to honor the Lord’s prasada. “Take prasada here eat at your mother’s house today, my child. I offered the preparations in secret to Sri Gaurcandra.”

Sri Jiva spent some days with Nityananda Prabhu, touring the nine islands of Navadwipa, in order to have Darshana of the holy places of the Lord’s pastimes there. Then, as ordered by Nitya­nanda Prabhu, he set out for Kasi (Varanasi). At Kasi he studied Vedanta under Sri Madhusudana Vacaspati, a disciple of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. The conclusions of Vedanta contained in Srimad-Bhagavatam that were expounded by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Sarvabhauma Bhattacaryain Puri had been in turn taught by the Bhattacarya to Madhusudana Vacaspati, who established a toll at Kasi. From him, Sri Jiva mastered the same conclusions.

From here Sri Jiva Goswami set out for Sri Vrindavana where he received shelter at the lotus feet of his two uncles. Sri Rupa and Sanatana. They were very pleased to see him and received from him all the news. Sri Jiva Goswami stayed with Sri Rupa Goswami, who began to teach him Srimad Bhagavatam. After initiating him with the divine mantra, Sri Rupa Goswami engaged him in the service of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara. According to Sadhana dipika, this Deity of Damodara was fashioned by Rupa Gosvami’s own hand for his dear disciple Sri Jiva Goswami. Sri Sri Radha-Damodara are presently being worshipped in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Seeing that Sri Jiva Goswami had quickly become conversant with the conclusion of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Rupa Goswami engaged him in proof-reading his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. At this time Sri Jiva Goswami compiled a commentary on Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu called Durgama sangamani. In the year 1476 (Sakabda) Sri Sanatana Gosvami compiled Sri Vaisnava tosani, a commentary on the tenth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which he gave to Sri Jiva Goswami for proof reading. Under the order of Sri Sanatana, Sri Jiva Goswami compiled a commentary on that named Laghu Vaisnava tosani in the year 1500 (Sakabda). His writings, along with those of Sri Rupa Goswami and Sri Sanatana Goswami, Sri Gopal Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Sri Raghunath das Goswami, Sri Krsna das, Sri Kasisvar Pandit, and Sri Madhu Pandit, completely captivated the learned men of that time.

Srila Jiva Gosvami made his appearance in 1455, Sakabdha (1533 A.D.), on the 12th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadra. He disappeared at the age of 85 in 1540 A.D., (Sakabdha, 3rd day of bright fortnight, Pausa).

Srila Jiva Gosvami composed many literatures, amongst them are:

Harinamamrta-vyakarana

Sutra-malika

Rasamrta-sesa

Gopala-virudavali

Sri-Madhava-mahotsava

Sri-Sankalpa-kalpavrksa

Brahma-Samhita-tika

Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-tika (Durgama-sangamani)

Ujjvala-nilamani-tika (Locana-rocani)

Gopala-campu

Sat-sandharbha (Tattva-sandarbha,Bhagavata-sandarbha, Paramatma

sandarbha, Krsna-sandarbha, Bhakti-sandharbha, Priti-sandarbha)

Srimad-Bhagavata-tika (Krama-sandarbha)

Laghu-vaisnava-tosani (Tenth Canto Bhagavatamcommentary)

Sarva-sambadina (commentary on Sat-sandarbha)

Gopala-tapani-tika (Sri-Suhkha-bodhini)

Padma-puranastha-yogasara-stotra-tika

Gayatri-vyakhya-vivrti (A commentary on theGayatri mantra as

described in the Agni Purana, chapters 216-217)

Radha-Krsnarcana-candrika

Dhatu-sangraha

Bhavartha-sucaka-campu