SRI GOVINDA KAVIRAJA

Sri Govinda Kaviraja and his brother Ramacandra Kaviraja were two sons of
Ciranjiva Sena and his wife, Sunanda. The custom in Bengal used to be that when
a lady became pregnant she would go to her paternal home to have the baby. So
Govinda Kaviraja was born in the home of his maternal grandfather, Sri Damodara
Kaviraja. Because he stayed within his mother's womb for an exessive period of
time, his mother was made very uncomfortable just before his birth.

A maidservant came to Sri Damodara Kaviraja to inform him of his wife's
distress just when he was performing puja. Because he was so engaged, he could
not speak, but indicated to the maidservant by eye signals that she should show
the devi-yantra to Sunanda. By seeing this she would immediately be able to
give birth. The maidservant misundestood his indication and instead bathed the
devi-yantra and then gave that water to Sunanda to drink. In any case she
immediately gave birth without complication.

Soon after Govinda's birth, his father passed on. Thus the two brothers stayed
with their grandfather. As he was a Sakta, they were also influenced in this
way.

Ramacandra eventually accepted the Vaisnava religion but Govinda remained a
staunch Sakta. Besides talks of Bhagavati, he discussed nothing else; besides
her puja, he worshipped no one else.

One day Govinda was considering in his mind, "By worshiping Bhagavati doesn't
one get released from material life?"

Just then he thought he heard Bhagavati-devi say, "Without worshipping Sri
Krsna, no one's distress can be alleviated."

Thus Govinda began to think of accepting shelter at the lotus feet of Sri
Srinivasa Acarya Prabhu. "Previously, the Vaisnavas, concerned for my eternal
welfare, told me about the good qualities of my father and how he was very much
favored by Sri Gaurasundara. Though I am his son, I have been practically
reduced to nothing by my bad fate."

"Now by the mercy of Bhagavati, I have understood my plight. If I can accept
the shelter of a bonafide spiritual master I am sure that my fate will change.
But Acarya Prabhu has gone to Vrindavana. What will become of me now, I cannot
fathom."

Again he heard a voice saying, "Your desire will be fulfilled. Just be
patient." His brother Ramacandra was very pleased to hear of these events.

In the meantime, the disciples of Acarya Prabhu were missing his association
very much, so they decided to send Ramacandra to Vrindavana to bring him back.
On the way there he stopped at Kumaranagar to see his younger brother. He
assured Govinda that all his desires would be fulfilled, and requested him to
go from Kumaranagar to Teliya Bhudarigram and make his residence there. Govinda
did so and constructed a house.

Some months thereafter Acarya Prabhu returned to Gaudadesa in the company of
Narottama dasa Thakura and Syamananda Prabhu. By their presence in Bengal an
inundation of harinama-sankirtana began to flood the land. Soon Acarya Prabhu
arrived at Bhudarigram where Govinda very humbly invited him to come to his
house. There he and the other residents of Bhudarigram had made grand
arrangements to receive him.

Govinda was very learned and very proficient poet. He composed one drama called
Sangita-Madhava. As well as being an excellent composer of songs, he was also
an expert singer. Sri Jiva Gosvami, Srinivasa Acarya, Sri Jahnava Mata and the
other Gosvamis were so pleased with his songs that they bestowed upon him the
title Kaviraj. He composed many songs about the various rasas of servitorship,
friendship, parenthood and conjugal love. They are beautifully ornamented with
poetic devices such as alliteration, and are in such simple language that yet
carries such deep emotion that the listeners' hearts naturally soften in love
of Godhead.

