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 Lokanatha 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. Thalkhari 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 darsana of Mahaprabhu. Sri
Gaurasundara very lovingly embraced Lokanatha 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 Vraja-bhumi, Mahaprabhu had already left for Prayaga. Lokanatha was
extremely sad. Again having missed darsan 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 Srimad Kasisvara, Srimad 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.
Lokanatha 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, Lokanatha 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 endeavor.

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 Sravon (Sravana).

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."


