                  THE LIFE OF RAGHUNATHA DASA GOSWAMI.
         
         INTRODUCTION
         
         
         Once, five hundred years ago, close by the banks of the Ganga, in 
         the state of Bengal, there was a beautiful  village   named
         Krsnapura. As was the case in most villages at that time, it was 
         owned by one man, the Zamindar, or the leader of the village.  
         
         The people of Krsnapura rented a portion of land from the 
         Zamindar and on this land grew fruits, vegetables, grains and of  
         course, tendedcows and other animals.  
         
         The name of this particular Zamindar was Govardhana and he was 
         much loved by the people of his village due to his very 
         charitable nature. He cared for the citizens very much and always 
         tended to their welfare. 
         
         Govardhana was also a Majumdara. This title was given to those 
         who collected taxes for the Muslim ruler of all the villages in 
         the area. The Muslim ruler at this time was Nawab Hussain Shah. 
         Govardhana kept all of the financial accounts of the village for 
         him as part of his service as a Majumdara. 
         
         The Zamindars were usually very wealthy powerful men and the 
         Zamindar of   would rent some farm land from himHe  would rent  all the farm land 
         out and always tended to the welfare of the villagers.
         
         In this village the Zamindar was also known as a Majumdara, which 
         meant he collected the  taxes for the Muslim  ruler, (who at that 
         time  was the Nawab Husein  Shah) and  would  keep all of the 
         financial accounts of the village for him.
         
         The Zamindars  were usually  very wealthy, powerful men and the 
         Zamindar of Krsnapura was extremely so. It is said in the 
         Caitanya Caritamrta that he would collect as much as two million 
         gold coins in a month. Half of this would go to the Nawab, but 
         the rest  would remain with the Zamindar.
         
         In those days a rupee was called a gold coin,and was worth a 
         great deal more than nowadays. A rupee could buy a parcel of land 
         big enough to support one family,so we can imagine the wealth of 
         this Zamindar,having an income of one million gold coins a month.
         
         The name of this Zamindar was Govardhana and he was much loved by 
         the people of the village due to his very charitable nature. He 
         would always be offering gifts to the sadhus  and  Vaisnavas, and  
         he daily fed the pilgrims who passed through the village.      
         
         Govardhana had a brother who was also a powerful landowner, and 
         his name was Hiranya Majumdara. Between the two of them they were 
         the wealthiest men in the district.
         
         Many of the business men , at that time belonged to the Kayastha 


         1


         class. In the south of India this class of men were considered on 
         an equal level with the sudras, the lower caste. But in the north 
         of India, where  our  story takes  place, they were thought of as 
         being almost on the  same level as the  brahmanas, who were the 
         highest class. This was due to their sharp intelligence and pious 
         ways. Govardhana and Hiranya were from this Kayastha class.
         
         The two brothers were indeed very charitable personalities, as 
         well as being knowledgeable in the scriptures. They  would always 
         be  engaged  in  distributing  their  wealth  to   the  saintly 
         Vaisnavas. In fact Sri Caitanya's father and uncle, as well as 
         Advaita Acarya, all received gifts from the brothers at different 
         times.  They built a wonderful temple for Sri Sri Radha Govinda, 
         and worshipped the Deities with great opulence.  It was said by 
         one Govinda das Kaviraja, (a contemporary of Raghunatha's, in his 
         book, "Sangita Nagari"), that the charity given by the two 
         brothers even surpassed that of Karna's (the Pandava) greatly 
         famed munificence.
         
         It was into this very wealthy pious family, in the year 1494, 
         that Raghunatha dasa took birth. This was Govardhana's first and 
         only son. His appearance gave him and his wife, who loved their 
         son with all their heart, much pleasure.
         
         Since Hiranya had no children, it was understood that Raghunatha 
         was the heir to the family fortune.  To keep the family line 
         going  in  those  days was of  utmost importance,  so no expence 
         was spared in his upbringing. 
         
         When Raghunatha was very young, he would have so many servants to 
         attend his every need.  When he awoke in the morning he would 
         climb out of bed to go the the washroom, where a pathway of lotus 
         flowers  would  protect  his soft  feet. There he would be bathed 
         with wonderfully scented waters and dried and dressed by three 
         servants.
         
         He would never be allowed to see any ugliness.  All servants had 
         handsome features and cheerful dispositions.  No beggars, maimed 
         or sick people would come before Raghunatha. No one hungry,old or 
         shivering and no one with bad eyesight,would be permitted to come 
         anywhere near him. Indeed he was in a cocoon of material joy, 
         protected by his parents on all sides.
         
         This is reminiscent of the life of Lord Buddha, who was protected 
         by his father in the same way. Like Buddha,  Raghunatha accepted 
         this protection for so long, but when the time was right, he 
         searched further afield for the answers to life his father was 
         unable to offer.
         
         One day young Raghunatha heard from his teachers about a horse 
         with a horn on his head and inquired from his father as to the 
         truth of this animal. Govardhana replied that of course the 
         animal existed and the next day he had a beautiful wooden unicorn 
         made for his son.  It had a gold horn which was studded with 
         jewels.


         2


         
         "Anything Raghunatha wants he can have," he would say.
         
         Such were Raghunatha's early days.  His every desire was 
         fulfilled.  He was loved by everyone and treated like a prince.
         
         He was never allowed to walk anywhere. There were always three 
         palanquins ready to take him wherever he wanted to go.  You may  
         wonder why three palanquins were there just to carry one man. 
         Their purpose was as follows. There were three main doorways 
         leaving the palatial house in which he lived. Since no one knew 
         which  doorway  he would emerge from, a palanquin waited by each, 
         so Raghunatha would not be kept waiting.
         
         "But I want to walk," Raghunatha would complain.
         
         "No no! Your father has said you must go in a palanquin. You  are 
         a prince," his servants would say.
         
         His childhood days passed in this way.
         
         The family had two priests who lived close by, Balarama Acarya 
         and Yadunandana Acarya. These  two  great  souls would look after 
         the wonderful Radha Govinda temple,and impart the Bhagavatam to 
         Govardhana and his family. One day the great saint Haridasa 
         Thakura, the spiritual master of Balarama Acarya , came to stay 
         with him.  The acarya, treating him with great care and 
         attention, persuaded him to remain in the village for a time.  
         Haridasa was given a solitary thatched cottage ,which was only 
         big enough for one man to sit in, and there he would chant the 
         Hare Krsna maha mantra. He  would take  his bath  in the 
         river,and his only dress were his kopins. He would take a little 
         prasadam
         only when he'd  finished chanting his prescribed three hundred 
         thousand  names of  God each day. In this  way the  great 
         renunciant lived.
         
         Slowly the news spread around the area that a very pure soul was 
         staying with Balarama and many people came to see him. 
          
         Hearing this, Govardhana sent his son Raghunatha over to see the 
         Thakura and get his blessings. He provided eight horsemen to 
         accompany  him, and  loaded them  up with gifts for the Thakura.
         Fine clothes,costly silks,grains and fruits were all sent to him.
         On  arriving at the village, the horseman found the Thakura in 
         his tiny cottage and informed him that they had come from the 
         local Zamindar with a grand offering for him. They inquired as to 
         where to put the presents. 
         Perusing the vast array of gifts and looking at his tiny cottage, 
         Haridasa  laughed and  asked  the name of the Zamindar. 
         
         "Govardhana  Majumdara,"  they  replied, " and  this  is  his son 
         and heir, Raghunatha. He has come for your blessings."
         
         Haridasa looked at the young prince amidst all this opulence and 


         3


         smiling said, "Yes I will bless you. I will bless you to get 
         detachment"
         
         Raghunatha's  heart leapt at these words,and he took them deeply 
         within himself. In fact Raghunatha was to  spend the rest of his 
         life fully absorbing this mood of renunciation.  
         
         But Balarama who was present, quickly sneezed, making it unable 
         for the other  servants to hear.  Balarama himself was very 
         pleased with the blessing that had been bestowed on Raghunatha, 
         but he knew Govardhana would not be. 
         
         When the servants returned and went before the Majumdara,who  was 
         seated on his  big  seat, surrounded  by  silk cushions and 
         servants, they bowed before him, and related their visit to the 
         Thakura. Then Govardhana inquired as to what blessing had been 
         given to his Raghunatha. 
         
         "Well he said something,but we couldn't really hear," they 
         replied. 
         
         So Govardhana asked Balarama if he had heard what the Thakur 
         said. 
         "Oh yes. He said that he will own the whole world. That was the 
         blessing." 
         
         If one thinks deeply about this statement by Balarama Acarya, he 
         will see that he was indirectly saying that he will renounce the 
         whole world.
         
         Govardhana beamed  and looked  across at  Hiranya, saying,  "Just 
         see Hiranya!  We only own one village but our boy will own the 
         whole world."  
         
         But Raghunatha had taken the blessing to heart, which was to 
         cultivate  vairagya. He had not the slightest desire to become 
         the most powerful man in the world. He  immediately  began to  
         secretly cultivate  this most noble quality, even amongst so much 
         opulence.
         
         Now at this time Balarama invited Haridasa Thakura to a meeting 
         in the temple with the local brahmanas, Govardhana and  Hiranya. 
         The Thakura spoke of the glories of chanting the holy names of 
         the Lord, and that liberation could be easily achieved   through  
         this  chanting. He  explained that  chanting these names was also
         the goal of this chanting,to glorify the Lord.
         
         There was one Mayavadi tax collector present known as Gopala 
         Cakravati, who was  described as being learned and youthful, and 
         having handsome bodily features. This young man, Gopala Cakravati 
         became angry at the words of Haridasa, and immediately criticized 
         him, saying that Haridasa was simply an emotional devotee. Then 
         he declared,"If one is not liberated by Nama bhasa,then you may 
         be certain that I shall cut off your nose."



         4


         The assembly of Vaisnavas were furious and threw Gopala out of 
         the meeting, They profusely apologized to the Thakura, throwing 
         themselves at his feet. But Haridasa was not disturbed.  
         
         "None of you are at fault," he said. "Indeed, even this  ignorant 
         so called brahmana is not at fault, for he is accustomed to dry 
         speculation and logic. One cannot understand the glories of the 
         holy name simply by logic and argument. Therefore this man cannot 
         possibly understand or appreciate the glories of the holy name."
         
         "You may now all go to your homes. May Lord Krsna bestow His 
         blessings upon you.  Do not be sorry because of my being 
         insulted."
         
         The Thakura quietly left for his cottage. A few days later Gopala 
         Cakravati contracted leprosy and his beautiful nose melted off.
         
         The characteristic of a pure devotee is that he excuses any 
         offence  by  an  ignorant rascal. The  characteristic of  Krsna 
         however,is that He cannot tolerate any blasphemy of His devotees. 
         
         Raghunatha was witness to this pastime of Haridasa Thakura's and 
         henceforth  even more  studiously  cultivated  his  blessing  of 
         renunciation.
         
         
         Now one day, Balarama came to Govardhana and began to describe 
         the qualities of a great sage and Vaisnava who he was going to 
         visit in Santipura.  In fact, he was saying that  this devotee 
         was as good as Krsna and Govardhana must allow his son Raghunatha 
         to accompany him in a visit to see Him. He reasoned with 
         Govardhana that since Raghunatha had all  material wealth, so too 
         must he have spiritual wealth. Govardhana consented and arranged 
         many servants to go with them.  He also prepared many gifts 
         for Raghunatha to take and offer to this great Mahatma.
         
         When the party arrived in Santipura, who should be there but Sri 
         Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself.When Raghunatha and Gauranga saw each 
         other, there was immediately a flow of love between them.  
         Caitanya called him to Him and rubbed His feet on  his head. He 
         said, "You be with Me and we will discuss Lord Hari ."
         
         Raghunatha stayed but the next day his father became anxious, 
         sending ten men to bring his son home,  but the men became so 
         inspired by Lord Caitanya that they too stayed.  The next day he 
         sent more men and they also stayed. Eventually over one hundred 
         men  had  come from  Govardhana  to bring  his son back. Everyone 
         was going but no one was coming back. They had been charmed by the
         transcendental potency of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
         
         Finally  Govardhana  himself  came  to  take  him  home. When he
         arrived,  he  saw  an  ocean  of  people.  He thought  that this 
         must  be  such a  great  Sadhu. He must be  doing something very 
         miraculous. Then he saw that the Mahatma was crying, with His 
         arms in the air. He was simply  chanting "Krsna! Mukunda! 


         5


         Madhava!" 
         
         When Govardhana saw this, he became quite disturbed. As a 
         Vaisnava he understood that his his son became attached to this 
         Personality, Who so obviously was not of this world, he would 
         also adopt His mood of detachment from all things material. He 
         had to remove Raghunatha from this situation.
         
         But now a dilemma arose in his mind, as he had also become 
         captivated by the Lord and did not want to leave. With the help 
         of his men, they set about searching for Raghunatha, swarming 
         aimfully among a sea of transcendentally intoxicated people.
         
         Upon finding his son he implored him to leave. He said that  he  
         must go home  straight  away, there  was a very 
         important  job he  must do. He told his  son, "You go and I will 
         stay."  
         
         Raghunatha was not happy at this. Approaching  Lord Caitanya, he 
         beseeched Him to allow him to stay.
         
         Lord Caitanya said, "No no! You  must go  home now. Be a good boy 
         and  listen  to  everything  your  father  says.  He  is  a  good 
         Vaisnava."
         
         He told  Raghunatha  that  once  love of  God had entered the 
         heart,it  would  be  very  difficult to keep away from the object 
         of that love. He told him not to  worry, that  soon the Lord will 
         arrange for them to be reunited. He assured him that next time 
         they met, it will be without fear of impending separation. Seeing
         Raghunatha's face full of anguish, He spoke soothing words and 
         advised him how to spend his time while waiting for this  moment. 
         He said, "It you journeyed to Vrindavan you would absorb the 
         transcendental atmosphere of the dhama. This would make our 
         separation more tolerable for you."  
         
         Raghunatha  went over to his father  and  said, "Mahaprabhu  said 
         I should go to Vrindavan."
         
         "No problem," his father replied, "but for now please come home."
         
         In  this  way  Raghunatha was  enticed to leave the association 
         of 
         Lord Caitanya and the assembly of Vaisnavas and rejoin his 
         father.
         
         When it came time for Raghunatha to go to Vrindavan,his father 
         prepared a  whole army to accompany him. He had them go ahead and 
         build kitchens to give Raghunatha nice prasadam along the way,and 
         so many elaborate arrangements were made for his comfort.In this 
         way Raghunatha made his first visit to Vrindavan.
         
         
         Upon his return to Krsnapura, he  became very restless,due to his 
         increased love for Caitanya Mahaprabhu.  He had decided to give 


         6


         up the life of opulence he was living and take full shelter of 
         Sri Caitanya .At night after the brahmanas had finished their 
         recitation of the Bhagavatam and everyone was in bed,Govardhana 
         would hear 'tap tap tap'on the shutters of the window. Getting 
         up, he grabbed his small sword and called to his soldiers to find 
         out what the noise was.
         
         Having  investigated  the  matter, they  came  back, informing 
         Govardhana that  it was  Raghunatha  trying to  break the window. 
         When Govardhana was told that it was his beloved son, yet again 
         trying to escape, he hastened to his room.
         
         Raghunatha had just managed to open the window.  His heart was 
         overflowing with joy in anticipation of a reunion with Lord 
         Caitanya.
         
         He eagerly peered from the window to assess his next move but who 
         should he see standing right outside it but his father. His heart 
         sank and he repeatedly cursed himself for his misfortune but 
         resigning himself to his fate, he went back to bed.
         
         These attempts at escape went on constantly for many months. He 
         was always trying to get away from the compound but his father's 
         soldiers would always capture him and bring him home. 
               
         
         The most beautiful wife was found for him. She was described as 
         looking like a damsel from the heavenly planets. It was hoped 
         that she would be able to encourage him to take up family life.
         But Raghunatha was not slightly interested. His only interest was 
         in  vairagya  and  reaching the  lotus  feet  of  Sri  Caitanya 
         Mahaprabhu.
         
         
           
         It so happened  at this time, there was a Mohammedan official 
         collecting the taxes to take to the Nawab. Previously, when the 
         Mohammedan government was in power, the person appointed tax 
         collector would collect the taxes from the local Zamindaras.  He 
         would keep one fourth of the collection himself as a profit and 
         the balance he would deliver to the treasury.
         
          
         However, when Hiranya, Raghunatha's uncle made an agreement with 
         the government to also collect taxes, the Mohammedan tax 
         collector became extremely envious, having lost his position to 
         Hiranya.
         
         The Mohammedan, who was a Turk, accused Hiranya of taking more 
         than his share of the collected taxes, and he sent a very strong 
         letter to the government, complaining about Hiranya's theft.
         
         The government forces came to arrest Hiranya, but he had gone 
         away for a while and was not home.  Govardhana was  also away at 
         that time.  Raghunatha was the only male representative at home 


         7


         so they arrested him and threw him in jail.
         
         Raghunatha was threatened each day with severe punishment if he 
         didn't reveal the whereabouts of his uncle or father.  But 
         Raghunatha, who actually did not know their whereabouts, was 
         unable to give them any information.
         
         Frustrated, the Turk wanted to beat Raghunatha, and was about to 
         do so, but as soon as he saw Raghunatha's face, full of purity 
         and innocence, his heart softened and was unable to think of 
         hurting him.
         
         With great humility, Raghunatha submitted this plea at the feet 
         of the Mohammedan.
         In order to attain release, Raghunatha used his intelligence and 
         diplomacy to dealing with this difficult situation.
         "My dear sir, my father and his elder brother are both your 
         brothers.  All brothers  fight about something.  Sometimes 
         brothers fight amongst themselves and sometimes they have very 
         friendly dealings.  There is no certainty when such changes will 
         take place.  Thus I am sure that although today you are fighting, 
         tomorrow you three brothers will be sitting together in peace.
         
         Just as I am my father's son, so I am yours.  I am your dependent 
         and you are my maintainer.  For a maintainer to punish the person 
         he maintains is not good. You are expert in all the scriptures.  
         Indeed you are like a living saint."
         
         Hearing Raghunatha's appealing voice, the Mohammedan's heart 
         softened, so much so that he began to cry. Tears glided down his 
         beard and he told Raghunatha, "Your are my son from this day on.  
         Today, by some means I shall have you released."
            
         After informing the minister in charge, the Mohammedan had 
         Raghunatha released and began to speak to him with great 
         affection.
         
         "We will make a financial arrangement with your uncle to both of 
         our benefits.  Go and tell your uncle that I will do whatever he 
         thinks best, and will completely depend on his decision."
         
         
         Raghunatha arranged the meeting and the matter was settled to 
         everyone's satisfaction.
         
         Raghunatha's recent service to his father and uncle did not 
         however,increase his attachment to hearth and home and his mind 
         constantly dwelled on escape, from this material encumbrance.
         
         
         Raghunatha's good mother became increasingly disturbed at her 
         son's  frustrated behaviour.In fear and desperation that she may 
         soon lose him, she pleaded with Govardhana that they should bind 
         him with ropes. She said that since he had seen that Sannyasa Who 
         was always crying, he had been like this. She had also seen 


         8


         others who had become strange since they had seen Him. She  
         thought Raghunatha had become mad.  What she couldn't understand 
         was that his 'madness' was a manifestation of his transcendental 
         love for the Supreme Lord. It was divine madness.
         
         Govardhana replied, "Raghunatha das, our son, has opulences like 
         Indra the king of heaven and his wife is as beautiful as an 
         apsara. However it does not seem that we can tie his mind with 
         them.  How then could we keep this boy at home by binding him 
         with ropes?  It is not possible even for one's father to nullify 
         the reactions of one's past activities. How then could I control 
         him? Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has fully bestowed His mercy on 
         him.  
         Who can keep home such a mad man of Caitanyacandra?"
         
         
         Raghunatha had heard that Lord Nityananda would soon be coming to 
         Patnihati. For one whole week he appeased his parents by making 
         no attempt at escape. At the end of the week, he went to his 
         father and begged him to let him go to Patnihati to see the Lord,
         
         Who at that time was performing Hari Nama through  the  village, 
         and was  accompanied by  many  kirtana performers,servants and 
         others. Witnessing with some awe, his son's determination, 
         Govardhana felt he had no choice but to give in. Not wanting his 
         son to experience any hardship, he sent with him many men to 
         attend to his every need.
          
         
         Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganga, Lord 
         Nityananda seemed as effulgent as hundreds and thousands of 
         rising suns.
         
         Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him.  Seeing the 
         influence of Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha das became astonished.  
         Feeling too unworthy to stand before the Lord, he offered his 
         obeisances by falling  prostrate at a distance  but one of the 
         disciples of Lord Nityananda saw him and pointed him out. The 
         Lord, recognising him as an eternal associate, had him brought 
         before Him. Lord  Nityananda was by nature very merciful and 
         funny. He spoke 
         to Raghunatha as follows.
         
         "You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay 
         away at a distant place.  Now I have captured you and I shall 
         punish you.  Make a festival and feed all the devotees chipped 
         rice and yogurt."  
         
         The  devotees  were  very  amused. The so called  punishment was 
         actually a merciful benediction.
         
         Hearing this Raghunatha was very pleased, as at last he was able 
         to use his wealth to please Lord Nityananda. He immediately sent 
         his men to  purchase all the eatables.  As word got around that a 
         festival was about to take place under the direction of Lord 


         9


         Nityananda, crowd increased. Raghunatha arranged for hundreds of 
         pots of chipped rice and yogurt to be brought along, with so many 
         other sweets and bananas.
         
         The two main preparations were chipped rice soaked in milk and 
         chipped rice mixed with yogurt , sugar and bananas. Everyone at 
         the festival was given a pot of each.
         
         
         Lord Nityananda was seated on a raised platform with  some of his 
         closest associates. Many  other learned scholars, brahmanas and 
         priests were there also and they too sat on the platform with 
         Him.   
         Eventually there were too many people on the platform, so some 
         sat around the edge and some sat on the sandy banks of the Ganga.
         
         At that time the great associate of Lord Caitanya, Raghava Pandit 
         arrived and laughed with surprise to see such a wonderful 
         festival taking place.
         
         Smiling, Lord Nityananda told Raghava Pandit, "I belong to a 
         community of cowherd boys and therefore I generally have many 
         cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat  a nice picnic 
         like this together, by the sandy bank of the river."
         
         Then, in meditation, Lord Nityananda brought Lord Caitanya to 
         that place.  Lord Caitanya observed the festival scene with much 
         pleasure.  Lord Nityananda  proceeded to put food from the 
         offerings into His brother's mouth in a joking manner. The two of 
         Them sported in this way. Only a few were able  to  witness  Lord 
         Caitanya's presence.
         
         All the confidential devotees who were actually cowherd boys,were 
         absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to 
         be the bank of the Yamuna!
         
         Many shop keepers arrived selling all kinds of food.  Raghunatha 
         brought it all from them.  Then he proceeded to feed it back to 
         them!
         
         Finally when the Lord's remnants were ready to by distributed 
         among His most intimate associates, only Raghunatha was called 
         forward by Him to receive this special mercy. Raghunatha became 
         ecstatic upon eating them. 
         
         That evening all of the devotees began a huge rousing kirtan, and 
         Lord  Nityananda began to dance very  wonderfully in their midst.
         It was them that Lord Caitanya  appeared to join the dancing,but 
         again this was only witnessed by a very few intimate associates. 
         
         After the dancing and kirtana, Raghava Pandit fed all of the 
         assembly, supper.  Again Lord Caitanya  appeared and partook of 
         Raghava Pandit's offering. Raghunatha was again given these 
         precious remnants.



         10


         The next morning Raghunatha submitted his desire to Lord 
         Nityananda. Raghunatha said, "My desire is to attain the shelter 
         of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.  Like a dwarf who wants to catch the 
         moon, I have tried many times, but have never  been successful.  
         Every time I try to go away, giving up my father's home and 
         relations, they keep me bound up.  No one can attain the shelter 
         of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu without Your mercy.  Although I am 
         unfit for this benediction, I am begging it from You."
         
         After hearing this appeal by Raghunatha, Lord Nityananda smiled 
         and told the devotees, "Raghunatha's standard of material 
         happiness is equal to that of Indra, the king of heaven.  Because 
         of Lord Caitanya's mercy Raghunatha does not like it at all."
          
         Then He called Raghunatha to Him and placed His feet upon his 
         head.  He told him that in fact Lord Caitanya had attended this 
         very feast. He had actually  come there just  to deliver 
         Raghunatha.  He told Raghunatha that he should rest assured that 
         very soon he would be placed under the charge of Sri Caitanya's 
         secretary, Svarupa Damodara, and become one of the most 
         confidential internal servants of Sri Caitanya.  But until then, 
         he should return to his  home and live quietly until the Lord 
         arranged for his release.
         
         Raghunatha  was so pleased to receive such mercy that he secretly 
         delivered an enormous amount of gold coins to Raghava Pandit, who 
         was serving Lord Nityananda. With great  humility  he  instructed 
         Raghava,  not to inform the devotees where it had come from, but 
         at a later date distribute it to them.  After taking the dust 
         from the feet of Raghava Pandit, Raghunatha das returned to his 
         home, feeling greatly obligated to the Lord.       
         
         
         From that day on he did not sleep in his father's house but built 
         a tiny cottage beside it.  The cottage was guarded by soldiers, 
         as it was feared that Raghunatha would still try to escape. His 
         main aim in this endeavor was to maintain a renounced standard of 
         living. For a whole year he didn't try to run away. He went about 
         his duties as the perfect dutiful son. As a result, his father 
         and attendants felt assured that he no longer wanted to escape 
         and slowly the guard relaxed.
         
         One evening however,  Yadunandana Acarya,the family priest, who 
         was always filled with love of God, and who was a disciple of 
         Advaita Acarya, came to visit Govardhana.  He had been having 
         some difficulty with the pujari in the temple, who had left his 
         service and was wanting Govardhana to resolve the issue. But 
         Govardhana was not at home that evening. Nor was his brother, 
         Hiranya. The Acarya decided to seek the help of Raghunatha. When 
         Yadunandana approached Raghunatha he agreed to come straight 
         away. But by now it was late at night and the guards had dozed 
         off.  Because Raghunatha had behaved so well for the last year, 
         they were not as attentive to him as they had previously been.  
         That night he left the house with only Yadunandana.  Together 
         they walked to the pujari's house. Upon arrival, Raghunatha 


         11


         suggested that Yadunandana return home, saying that he would 
         speak to the pujari himself.  Yadunandana agreed and returned to 
         his own house.
         
         Raghunatha, alone and free at last,and believing this to be a 
         divine arrangement by Lord Caitanya, turned and made haste to 
         Jagganatha Puri to seek the lotus feet of his Lord and master.
         
         
         At that time, devotees from everywhere were traveling to see Lord 
         Caitanya. Raghunatha knew that if he  traveled with them, his 
         father's men would catch up with him and bring him back.  So he 
         took the unused track  through a  different route and simply ran 
         all night and the next day. That evening he slept in a cow shed 
         and was given  some milk by a farmer.  Again the next day he was 
         off, traveling along the small track  off the main road. In this 
         way he avoided his father's men who had in fact caught up with 
         Sivananda Sena and the other devotees traveling to Jagganatha. 
         But they hadn't found Raghunatha to be amongst them.
         
         Twelve days later,on a journey that usually took at least twenty 
         days ,Raghunatha arrived in Jagganatha Puri. He had thought of 
         nothing except the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, and in this way 
         he  sustained himself. Having eaten only three times along the 
         way, he was in a poor condition  on his arrival. 
         
         On arriving in Jagganatha Puri, he found Lord Caitanya seated 
         with the devotees,headed by Svarupa Damodara Goswami. Raghunatha 
         paid his obeisances,again from a distant place,but Mukunda saw 
         him and pointed him out to the Lord, Who immediately called him 
         over and happily embraced him.
         This moment was the culmination of a lifetime's endeavour and 
         Raghunatha could at last place all his love at the feet of his 
         eternal master.
         The Lord said to him "My dear Raghunatha,by leaving your opulent 
         lifestyle to take up the path of vairagya you have been delivered 
         from the ditch of materialistic life, which is like a hole into 
         which people pass stool. Although your father and uncle are pious 
         men, they are not pure vaisnavas, because of their material 
         attachments."  
         
         Then seeing that Raghunatha was skinny and dirty, His heart 
         melted. Immediately He entrusted him to Svarupa Damodara, with 
         instructions to treat him as kindly as he would his son or 
         servant. Saying this He took the hand of Svarupa Damodara and 
         placed it in that of Raghunatha's and embraced them both again.
         
         Lord Caitanya had just introduced Raghunatha to the person who 
         was to give him personal spiritual guidance for the remainder of 
         their time together.
         
         He turned to Govinda and said, "Raghunatha  has fasted and 
         undergone hardship for many days.  Therefore take good care of 
         him and feed him to his full satisfaction."



         12


         Having instructed Svarupa Damodara and Govinda what to do for 
         Raghunatha, he gave Raghunatha himself the following 
         instructions. He said, "Go and bathe in the sea.  When you have 
         done this take darshan of Lord Jagganatha.  Then return and take 
         your meal."
         The Lord  then  left and all of  the  devotees  were  struck with 
         wonder at the good fortune Raghunatha had received and they also 
         in turn embraced him.  For the next sixteen years, Raghunatha was 
         to stay in Puri associating and serving Lord Caitanya and all the 
         devotees.
         
         
         
         
         One day, Lord Caitanya inquired from Govinda as to Raghunatha's 
         whereabouts. He was informed that Raghunatha was now begging for 
         his food.  Lord Caitanya was very pleased.  "Raghunatha has acted 
         well. This is suitable behavior for a person in the renounced 
         order of life.  One should always chant Hare Krsna and beg some 
         alms to eat and should live in this way.  A  vairagyi will be 
         unsuccessful if he depends on others.  One who is subservient to 
         the tongue and genitals, by constantly making arrangements for 
         their satisfaction, can never attain Krsna."
         
         The following day, Raghunatha inquired from Svarupa Damodara as 
         to what duties he could perform for Lord Caitanya.  Svarupa 
         Damodara decided to submit this inquiry to Caitanya Mahaprabhu, 
         Who replied, "I would like Raghunatha das to behave in the 
         following way. Do  not talk like people in general or hear what 
         they say.  You should not eat very palatable food, nor should you 
         dress very nicely.
         
         Do not expect honor, but offer all respects to others.  Always 
         chant the holy name of the Lord and within your mind render 
         service to Radha and Krsna in Vrindavana.
         
         One who thinks himself lower than the straw in the street, who is 
         more tolerant than the tree and who does not expect any personal 
         honor, but is always ready to give respect to others, can very 
         easily always chant the holy name of the Lord."
         
         The authorised scriptures state the Svarupa Damodara was the 
         incarnation of Radharani's senior maid servant Lalita. 
         Raghunatha's position in the the spiritual world was that of 
         Lalita's principle servant, Rasa Manjari.  Thus the eternal  
         intimate relationship between them was set into play for Lord 
         Caitanya's pastimes. 
         The devotees from Bengal arrived, as had been their custom, for 
         the annual cleaning of the Gundica temple.  The festival took 
         place, ending with a wonderful picnic which was held in the 
         garden.
         
         The following day a huge Rathayatra festival was held.  At this 
         Rathayatra, Raghunatha observed the Lord dancing so beautifully 
         with all the devotees,and  was struck with wonder.


         13


         
         At the end of four months, the Bengali devotees left for their 
         homes. It was then that Raghunatha was given the opportunity to 
         stay with the Lord's most intimate disciples.
         
         When Raghunatha's father heard from the returning devotees about 
         the condition of his son, he was very saddened.  He sent money to 
         Raghunatha through his men.  Raghunatha would not accept the 
         money for himself, but invited  Mahaprabhu to his house to take 
         prasadam twice in a month.  He would take from his father's 
         servants what money he needed to do this.
         
         He performed this service for two years. One day at the end of 
         this period, he began to consider that he was doing an injustice 
         to Caitanya Mahaprabhu by accepting the money of materialistic 
         people. Therefore he stopped this practice.
         
         Caitanya Mahaprabhu was happy when He heard why He was no longer 
         being invited to take His meal with Raghunatha.  He said, "When 
         one eats food offered by materialistic men, one's mind becomes 
         contaminated.  And when the mind is contaminated, one is unable 
         to think of Krsna properly."
         
         Some days after this, Raghunatha also gave up standing at the 
         Simha-dvara gate to beg. Instead, he began taking his daily meal 
         at the free distribution boothe.  Lord Caitanya was pleased with 
         this move also and commented that the idea of begging is like a 
         prostitute,in that she gages the wealth of her customers. In the 
         same way a beggar gages the wealth of certain people for alms. 
         His 
         father had been sending his servants in disguise,(so Raghunatha 
         wouldn't recognize them) to drop money into Raghunatha's begging 
         bowl.  This had greatly displeased Raghunatha, so much so that he 
         gave up begging altogether.
         
         By Raghunatha's constant display of renunciation, Lord Caitanya 
         became so pleased that He gave him His own Govardhana Sila. The 
         Lord had been worshipping the Sila for the last three years.  It 
         was said that the Sila was moist from the tears of the Lord.  
         Raghunatha was overjoyed to receive this great treasure .  In his 
         worship, he could perceive Krsna directly in the stone, which 
         would make Raghunatha  over flow with tears of ecstatic love.
         
         He would spend more that twenty two hours every day chanting the 
         Maha Mantra and remembering the lotus feet of the Lord.  He ate 
         and slept for less than an hour and a half and on some days even 
         sleeping was impossible, so strong was his love for Krsna.
         
         Throughout his life his tongue never engaged in sense 
         gratification.  He never touched anything to wear except a small 
         torn cloth and a patchwork wrap.  He would only eat to keep his 
         body and soul together.
         
         Soon he gave up even going to the free boothe and would take 
         instead the decomposed remnants that had been thrown to the cows, 


         14


         by the Simha gate.  At night, he would stealthily go and retrieve 
         a few grains of rice and washing them, he would gather his 
         prasadam.
         
         When Svarupa Damodara found this out he chastised him, saying, 
         "You eat such nectar every day, but you never invite us.  Where 
         is your character?"
         
         When the Lord came to hear of this He came to Raghunatha and 
         asked,  "What nice things are you  eating? Why don't you give 
         anything to Me?" Saying this he forcibly took a morsel and began 
         to eat.  
         
         Svarupa Damodara became disturbed by seeing the Lord take such 
         unofferable foodstuff,and decided not to allow  the  Lord to take 
         anymore.  He pleaded with Him, saying, "This is not fit for You."
         
         To his surprise, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu responded in this way.  
         He said, "Every day I eat a variety of prasadam, but I have never 
         tasted as nice prasada as Raghunatha is taking."
         
         In this way  the  Lord  showed  His  great pleasure at seeing the 
         severe penances performed by Raghunatha. 
         
         Raghunatha is described by one poet, Kavi Karnapura as follows:-
         "Because he is very pleasing to all the devotees, Raghunatha das 
         Goswami easily became like the fertile earth of good fortune in 
         which it was suitable for the seed of Lord Caitanya to be sown.  
         At the same time that the seed was sown, it grew into a matchless 
         tree of love for Lord Caitanya and produced wonderful fruit."
         
         It is stated in the Sri Gaura Ganoddesa dipaka, that Srila 
         Raghunatha dasa Goswami was the incarnation of the gopi Rasa 
         Manjari.  Some say he was Rati Manjari, while others say he was 
         Banumati devi.
         
              
         On the disappearance of his most beloved Lord, Sri Caitanya 
         Mahaprabhu, Raghunatha's heart broke. The feelings of separation 
         were so strong that he felt he could no longer maintain the life 
         in  his body and he journeyed to Vrindavan with the intention of 
         leaving this world.  
         
         On arriving  there he was  met by Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis who 
         told him that no, he must not even think of leaving his body, 
         there was so much service to be done for the Lord.  Now he must 
         help them write about the pastimes of he Lord, enunciating  
         devotional  service. They  told  him that  soon  Krsna das 
         Kaviraja  would   come  and  write the most wonderful  of  books, 
         the  Caitanya  Caritamrta, but he  would be needing  Raghunatha's 
         diary  as  well as  the  diary  of Svarupa Damodara, which  he  
         also had in his possession.  They  told him of their mission to
         find and preserve the many sacred places in the Holy Dhama that
         had become covered,and  Raghunatha must help them in this great 
         undertaking. 


         15


         
         Raghunatha agreed to their proposal and gave up his idea of 
         suicide.  Now he  would  travel  around the  dhama continually, 
         glorifying the Lord.  He took practically no food and slept for 
         only  one  hour  a day.  In the true mood of a renunciant, his 
         residence was not  fixed.  Each  night he would sleep  under  a 
         different tree.
         
         While Raghunatha dasa was at Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda,which 
         were practically no more than small ponds of water, discovered by 
         Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, he would look upon the fallen state 
         of these once very beautiful lakes and sometimes wish he could in 
         some way restore them to their former splendour.  Then he would 
         chastize himself for desiring something which required so much 
         money.  
         
         
         
         
         
         Now there was one very wealthy merchant, who underwent great 
         austerities in climbing all the way to Badarikasrama to offer an 
         enormous amount of wealth at the lotus feet of Sri Badrinarayana.  
         That night as he slept, he had a dream.  In the dream the Lord 
         visited him saying that he should deliver his wealth to a certain 
         Raghunatha dasa Goswami in Vraja.  He further instructed him that 
         if Raghunatha refused to accept it the merchant should remind 
         Raghunatha of his wish to restore Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda to 
         their former beauty.
         
         The merchant was very happy to have received such mercy in the 
         form of a wonderful dream and quickly left for Vraja.  On 
         arriving there he met Raghunatha dasa and related to him his 
         dream.  The Goswami was very surprised by this news, but quickly 
         consented and engaged the merchant himself in the construction 
         work. 
         
         
         Unbeknownst to Raghunatha, on the banks of Radha Kunda, the five 
         Pandavas were residing in the  form  of trees. As  the  work was 
         proceeding it was decided that the trees would have to be cut 
         down.  That night the five Pandavas  appeared  in  a  dream to 
         Raghunatha and requested him not to  cut the  trees down as they 
         were residing there in that form.
         
         Needless to say, Raghunatha immediately stopped the men from 
         their efforts,and today the trees are still  present,  gracing 
         the beautiful kunds that were completed at that time. Seeing this 
         beauty, Raghunatha became ecstatic and the bliss of the devotees 
         assisting him knew no bounds.
         
         
         On the banks of Radha Kunda, Raghunatha das Goswami would live. 
         Each night he would stay under a different tree.  Sometimes he 
         would stay on the banks of the Manasa Ganga.  At that time these 


         16


         areas were jungles filled with ferocious animals.  One day, 
         Sanatana Goswami came to the banks of Manasa Ganga to meet Gopala 
         Bhatta Goswami.  Before accepting his noon meal at Gopal Bhatta's 
         bhajan kutir, he went to take bath at the Pavan ghat of Manasa 
         Ganga.  From there he saw two tigers come to the kund and after 
         drinking some water, saunter off.  Just near that spot, 
         Raghunatha das Goswami was sitting under a tree absorbed in his 
         bhajana.  Sanatana Goswami was startled to see this but even more 
         so when he saw Sri Krsna standing at some distance observing 
         everything.  He then requested Raghunatha to do his bhajan within 
         a hut so the Lord would not have to go to the bother of having to 
         protect him.
         
         
         On another occasion, Raghunatha das, who still hadn't bothered to 
         have a kutir constructed was sitting in the noon day sun absorbed 
         in his bhajana.  Srimati Radharani happened to pass that way   
         and seeing that the sun was beating down on Raghunatha's head,  
         stood behind him and held the end of her sari to shield him from 
         the sun's rays.  One of the Goswamis came along and saw this 
         heart rending scene, while profuse perspiration continued to flow 
         from Srimati Radharani's transcendental body.  This time when he 
         was again requested to build his bhajan kutir, he immediately 
         complied.
         
         We can see from this that Raghunatha dasa  was a very pure saint. 
         Through his pure devotion the Lord became his servant.
         
         In Vraja, Krsna is served by Radharani and Candravali, who each 
         have unlimited maid servants.  According to the mellows of 
         paramour love,  Raghunatha das Goswami counted himself as a 
         maidservant of the friends of Srimati Radharani.  As Candravali 
         is the chief competitor of Radharani, Raghunatha would never go 
         to her kunda or talk with any of her sakhis.  Thus he always 
         served the servants of Radharani within his mind. 
         
         One Brajabasi known as Sri dasa Brijabasi used to bring 
         Raghunatha a leafcup of buttermilk every day.  Drinking this much 
         only, Raghunatha dasa would engage in bhajan throughout the day.  
         One day Sri das Brijabasi went to Candravali's kunda, known as 
         Sakhi sthali to herd his cows.  There he saw a palash tree with 
         very large leaves, so he collected some to make leafcups. The 
         next day, in one of the new leafcups he brought some buttermilk 
         to Raghunatha.  Raghunatha das accepted the leafcup of buttermilk 
         and inquired, "Sri Dasji, where did you get these nice palash 
         leaves?"
         
         Sri dasji replied, "While I was pasturing the cows I came to 
         Sakhi Sthali and found them there."
         
         Simply hearing the word, 'Sakhi Shtali' , Raghunatha dasa flew 
         into a rage and threw the leafcup of buttermilk away saying, "The 
         followers of Srimati Radharani never accept anything from that 
         place." 



         17


         Seeing the loyal devotion of Raghunatha dasa for Srimati 
         Radharani, Sri dasji was amazed.
         
         As fallen souls of the age of Kali, we can only appreciate the 
         highly elevated and pure devotion Raghunatha has for Srimati 
         Radharani.  We should be cautioned not  to try and imitate this 
         mood of Raghunatha's, as we are not in any position to minimise  
         the importance of Srimati Candravali, who serves the Lord   with  
         pure devotion in Vrindavan Dhama.
         
         
         Raghunatha dasa would always serve Sri Sri Radha Govinda within 
         his mind.  One day in his meditation he cooked sweet rice and 
         offered it to Them.  In great pleasure They accepted the offering 
         and the other gopis also relished this prasadam.  Then Raghunatha 
         himself honored Their remnants and 
         in great ecstasy, due to the pleasure of having been able to 
         satisfy Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Their loving attendants, he ate 
         a little more than was his custom.
         
         In the afternoon Raghunatha used to speak about Sri Caitanya 
         Mahaprabhu.  However, this day when the devotees came to hear him 
         speak, they found that the door to his kutir was closed.  They 
         waited for some time but when it appeared that there was no 
         movement inside, they became a little anxious and called out, 
         "Goswamiji, are you all right?"
         
         Raghunatha answered, "My body is not well."
         
         The devotees became concerned and immediately sent word to 
         Sanatana Goswami in Mathura.  At that time, Sri Sanatana Goswami 
         was staying with Sri Vallabhacarya's son Sri Vithalnathji, who 
         immediately sent two physicians to Radha kunda to examine 
         Raghunatha.  After checking his pulse, the doctors discussed 
         among themselves the reasons for his sickness.
         
         "Due to eating a combination of rice and milk, his body is 
         feeling very heavy," said one.
         
         "Yes," said the other. "Such eating has certainly imbalanced his 
         life airs and caused this disease."
         
         Hearing this diagnosis everyone was struck with wonder. 
         Raghunatha das Goswami, who subsisted on only a little buttermilk 
         each day, fell ill  from  eating  too  much  sweet  rice!  It was 
         astonishing. The food that had caused his disease was only eaten 
         in meditation.  
         
         The devotees already knew that Raghunatha dasa was very special, 
         but this incident confirmed their appreciation to an even greater 
         degree and love and admiration for him swelled within their 
         hearts.
         
         
         Throughout his life, Raghunatha das Goswami was known for his 


         18


         inoffensive behaviour.  He would never hear a criticism of 
         another devotee, or in fact anyone.  As an utthama adikari he saw 
         everyone as an eternal servant of the Lord. If he happened to be 
         in a place where criticism was being voiced, he would block his 
         ears and run away.
         
         Each day thousands of people would come to seek his blessings, 
         offer him respects and purify their hearts. Upon seeing them from 
         a distance, Raghunatha would offer  his  obeisances to them. He 
         would also offer over one thousand obeisances to the Holy Dhama 
         of Vrindavan every day.  
         
         In this way we get  a tiny  glimpse  into this most intimate, 
         renounced follower of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He lived to a very 
         advanced age even though subsisting on almost nothing. One could 
         say that he only subsisted on the chanting of the  Holy Names of 
         God. 
         
         Such is the power of chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna 
         Hare Hare,Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Through it  we 
         can become detached from this material conception, and reawaken 
         our true spiritual consciousness, that of Krsna Preme.
         
         
