

81.RAGHUNATHA DASA GOSVAMI:

Sri Raghunatha dasa took his birth in the village of Sri Krsnapura in the district of Hooghly.  His father's name was Sri Govardhana, whose elder brother was Sri Hiranya dasa. Both of them were respectable wealthy land-holders belonging to the Kayast
ha caste.  Their title, which was given by the King, was "Majumdar" and their yearly income was two million.

In his childhood Sri Raghunatha dasa studied at the house of the priest, Acarya Sri Balarama dasa.  Haridasa Thakura was very merciful to Balarama dasa and occasionally visited his house.  At these times Raghunatha dasa had the good fortune of relish
ing Thakura Haridasa's association and listened to philosophical discourses from him.

Sri Raghunatha dasa was the only son in the family of Hiranya and Govardhana and there was no limit to the care and affection which was showered upon him.  Though he was brought up just like the son of a king, by the powerful influence of saintly dev
otees, he realized at a very young age that material existence is temporary and a mood of detachment towards wealth, parents and relatives began to grow within him.

Upon hearing the glories of Sri Gauranga and Nityananda, he became extremely eager to have darsana of Their lotus feet. When he heard that Sri Gaurasundara had taken sannyasa and was leaving Nadia forever, he rushed madly to the home of Advaita Acary
a in Santipura to meet the Lord.  Seeing Raghunatha fall at His feet, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that this was His dear most eternal associate, and He embraced Raghunatha firmly.  Crying, Sri Raghunatha appealed to the Lord, "I will als
o go with you."  But the Lord replied that He would not take him along at that time, yet upon His return from Vrndavana, Raghunatha should, under any pretext, come to Nilacala to see Him.

In CC. Anyta lila, Sixth Chapter, there is a narration of how Sri Raghunatha dasa was arrested by the Nawab's men and his subsequent release from the bondage of family life.  In that chapter there is also a description of the Panihati festival, as we
ll as Raghunatha's pastimes in Jagannatha Puri with Sri Gaurasundara.

Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami passed his days in the highest happiness, continually bathing in the shower of Mahaprabhu's mercy.  But upon the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Raghunatha's world grew dark.  In separation from their Lord, the d
evotees hearts burned with anguish.  Raghunatha dasa also burned in that fire of separation, but taking the order of Mahaprabhu on his head, he went to Sri Vrndavana.  Previously Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa, Sri Gopala Bhatta, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri L
okanatha, Sri Kasisvara, and Sri Bhugarbha Gosvami had already gone to Vrndavana and were living there by the order of the Lord. Though they all burned in the fire of separation, they pacified themselves by gathering together and discussing and writi
ng the conclusions of the teaching of Mahaprabhu.  It was the dawn of a golden age in Vraja.  Sri Vallava Acarya also visited Vrndavana at that time.

Sri Raghunatha used to reside at Sri Radhakunda.  At that time Radhakunda had not yet been excavated, though Raghunatha often meditated upon how to beautify the kunda.  Once a wealthy merchant walked the long, difficult road to Sri Badarikasrama.  Wi
th great devotion he worshiped Sri Badarinarayana and offered a large portion of his wealth in charity.  That night Sri Badarinarayana appeared to him in a dream and said, "You should go to the village near Vraja named Arit-grama where you will find
my devotee, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.  To him you should deliver all your wealth.  If he refuses to accept it, tell him I sent you and remind him about restoring Radhakunda."  The merchant happily returned to his home and then went on to Vraja whe
re he met Sri Raghunatha and explained everything to him.  Astonished, Raghunatha gave him permission to restore both Radhakunda and Syamakunda

On the banks of the kunda grew five trees, which were actually the five Pandavas.  Once there was some talk of cutting the trees down, but that night the Pandavas appeared to Raghunatha and forbade the trees to be cut.  To this day the trees still gr
ow there.  The devotees were overwhelmed with happiness to see the restoration of Sri Radhakunda and Sri Syamakunda.  On the outskirts of these two ponds, groves of the Asta-sakhis were planted.

Raghunatha did not have a fixed residence, but stayed either on the banks of Sri Radhakunda or on the banks of the Manasa Ganga.  At that time both places were surrounded by a fearful jungle inhabited by ferocious tigers and other wild beasts.  One d
ay Sri Sanatana Gosvami arrived at the bhajan kutir of Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami on the banks of the Manasa Ganga where he would take his midday meal.  When going for a bath at Pavan Ghat he saw a tiger very nearby who had just drunk water in the gha
t. Just a little further on, Raghunatha dasa sat at the base of a tree deeply absorbed in his bhajan. Sanatana Gosvami was alarmed and requested Raghunatha to practice bhajan in a cottage or hut.  From that day on Raghunatha performed his bhajan in h
is hut.

In Vraja, Sri Radha and Candravali serve Sri Govinda in the mood of parakiya love.  They each have unlimited sakhis who assist them in their pastimes.  Sri Raghunatha considered himself to be a maidservant in Radha's group, and therefore he never wen
t to Candravali's grove or chatted with any of her friends.  In this way he spent his days worshiping Krsna within his mind.

A devotee named Sridasa Vrajavasi used to bring a leaf cup of buttermilk to Raghunatha dasa everyday.  Raghunatha would drink his buttermilk and spend the day doing bhajan. One day Sridasa Vrajavasi took some cows to pasture in the garden groves of S
rimati Candravali.  From that garden he picked some large palasa leaves which he took back to his house.  He made leaf cups from the palasa leaves and in one cup he took Raghunatha dasa some buttermilk.  Upon receiving the milk Raghunatha enquired ab
out the big leaves.  When Sridasa replied that he had got them in the grove of Srimati Candravali, Raghunatha dasa was filled with rage.  He threw the cup of buttermilk on the ground, saying that the followers of Sri Radha never accepted anything fro
m that place.  Sridasa was amazed to see Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's firm devotion for Sri Radha.

Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was always engaged in worshiping Sri Radha-Govinda within his mind.  One day, in his meditation he prepared and offered sweet-rice to Sri Radha and Krsna.  In great happiness They and the gopis ate the sweet rice, and he accep
ted Their remnants.  While he was honoring their Lordship's prasada, he was filled with intense love and ate slightly more than what he was accustomed to.  The next day, from morning until late afternoon his door remained closed, causing the devotees
 some concern.  After they knocked repeatedly on his door, it finally opened and they saw him lying down.  "My health is not good," he explained to Sridasa. The devotees were unhappy and immediately sent word to Sanatana Gosvami in Mathura.  At that
time Sri Sanatana was staying at the house of Vallava Acarya. Upon hearing the news, Vallavacarya's son, Sri Viththal, sent two doctors to see Raghunatha dasa at Radha-kunda.

Seeing his condition the physicians insisted that Raghunatha's illness was the result of eating too much sweet rice.  The devotee were dumfounded by such a suggestion, but eventually understood the mystery.  The worship of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was
 very wonderful.

Kavi Karnapura has written in GGD (186) that Sri Raghunatha was Rasamanjari in Krsna lila.  According to some other persons he was Ratimanjari or Bhanumati.

Raghunatha dasa wrote many books such as:  Stavavali, Danacarita, Muktacarita, etc.  He also composed many padas. He was born in the Saka era of 1428 and left the world in the Saka era of 1504, on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month
of Asvina.  (CC. 1.10.91-102, 3.6.35-154, GGD. 186, Premavilasa 16.127)

His name has been mentioned in the following texts: Vaisnava Vandana of Jiva Gosvami (149-150), of Devakinandana (55), and of Vrndavanadasa (49); Krsnacaitanyacaritam of Murari Gupta 4.17.21; Karnapura's Caitanyacandrodayanatakam 10.3.;  CC. (R.G. Na
th ed.) 2.1.269.

82.RAGHUNATHA KAR:

He was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya and belonged to Sripata Kancangadia.  (Karnananda 1)

83.RAGHUNATHA MISRA:

He was a devotee of Lord Gauranga.  (Namamrtasamudra 112)

84.RAGHUNATHA PURI/TIRTHA:

This is another name of Acarya Vaisnavananda, who belonged to the sakha of Lord Nityananda (CC. 1.11.42, GGD. 96-97).  See also "Vaisnavananda Acarya."  He is mentioned in the following texts:  Vaisnava Vandana of Jiva Gosvami (270), but in Devakinan
dana's and Vrndavana dasa's his name is given as Raghunatha Puri.  (Caitanyamangala of Jayananda (145), CC. 1.11.39)

85.RAGHUNATHA RAYA:

He was a brahmana resident of Navadvipa.  His father was Subhananda Raya and his brother was Janardana.  His son was the well-known Jagai (or Jagannatha).  (Premavilasa 21)

86.RAGHUNATHA SIROMANI:

He was born at Pancakhanda and was a student of Vasudeva Sarvabhauma.  His family-line is as follows:  Isan---Vidyunmali--Govinda.  Govinda had two sons named Raghupati and Raghunatha.

Raghunatha studied at Navadvipa and was later invited to Mithila.  Afterwards Raghunatha set up the first school for teaching Nyaya in the cattle-shed of the affluent Hari Ghosh of Navadvipa.

When Raghunatha Siromani attained great distinction in Navadvipa, King Prataparudra of Orissa took Vasudeva Sarvabhauma to Orissa.  Raghunatha was also known as "Kana Siromani," or "Kanabhatta."

According to Advaita Prakasa (p.54), the commentary prepared by Lord Caitanya on the treatise of Nyaya was thrown into the Ganges to enable Raghunatha to have a wide circulation of his own commentary on the same subject.  His writings are as follows:
  Cintamani-didhiti, Padartha-Khandana, Atmatattva Viveka, Tika of Gunakiranavali and Nyayalilavati, Nanarthavad, Pramanyavad, ksanabhangurvad, Malimluca-viveka, etc.  (See Navadvipa Mahima (P. 130-147)

87.RAGHUNATHA VAIDYA:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Caitanya and was a close associate of the Lord at Puri (CC. 1.10.124-126).  He is mentioned in Murari Gupta's Krsnacaitanyacaritam 4.17.21.

88.RAGHUNATHA VAIDYA:

He was a disciple of Narottama Thakura.  (Premavilasa 20)
89.RAGHUNATHA VAIDYA UPADHYAYA:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Nityananda (CC. 1.11.26, CBh. 3.5.726).  He was present during the famous festival at Kheturi.  Commanded by Lord Caitanya this Raghunatha accompanied Lord Nityananda to Bengal and on the way Raghunatha experienced Re
vatibhava  (CBh. 3.5.231-239)

90.RAGHUPATI UPADHYAYA:

He was a brahmana from Mithila belonging to Sripata Trihut (CC. 2.19.92).

When Lord Caitanya stayed at the house of Vallabhacarya at Prayag, Raghupati went there and sought refuge at the feet of the Lord.  Lord Caitanya derived great satisfaction from conversing with Raghupati about Lord Krsna (CC. 2.19.93-107)

Slokas composed by Raghupati have been included in Padyavali (no.s 82,87,97,78,126,301)

91.RAJA MITRA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu.  (Rasikamangala Pascima 14.111)

92.RAJA NRSIMHADEVA:

A King of Manbhum district, he was a close friend and God-brother of King Vira Hamvira.  He contributed to Padavali literature.  (See Gaudiya Vaisnava Literature 2.31)

93.RAJANI PANDITA:

He was also known as "Avadhuta."  He lived at Bhangamora village located about four miles west of Tarakeswar in the district of Hugli.  Abhirama Gosvami was commanded to go to this place to install Deities of Madanamohana.  The name of the village wa
s thus changed to "Madanamohanapura."  The map of the Hugli district continues to show Madanamohanapura in place of Bhangamora.

Rajani Pandita entrusted Mukunda Pandita, the disciple of Abhirama Gosvami, with the responsibility of serving Madanamohana.  Rajani then went to Bakharpura village where he installed Deities of Syamaraya and served Them.

Abhirama-lilamrta states as follows:  Commanded by his guru, Abhirama Thakura, Mukunda Pandita went to Sonatala village where he installed the Deity of Syamaraya and served Them.  Once when Mukunda visited Bhangamora village, Rajani warmly welcome hi
m and ordered his attendant to fetch water to wash Mukunda's feet.  As the attendant took a long time to bring the water, someone else delivered it.  Rajani then went inside the temple and found mud and shrubs from the pond stuck to the feet of Madan
amohana.  Rajani realized that Madanamohana Himself had gone to fetch water in a vessel for His devotee.  Rajani then humbly told Mukunda, "You are the real devotee of the Lord, thus you should serve Him here. Today I am entrusting you with the servi
ce of Madanamohana and I will go elsewhere."  Thus Mukunda took charge of serving Rajani's Deities and Rajani went to serve Mukunda's Syamaraya Deity.

94.RAJANI KAR PANDITA:

According to Pata-paryatana he was a disciple of Abhirama Gosvami and belonged to Sripata Salika.

95.RAJAVALLABHA:

He was the grandson of Vamsivadana Thakura and the son of Sacinandana.  (Vamsisiksa P. 232)

96.RAJAVALLABHA CAKRAVARTI:

He was a disciple of Isvari Mata, the wife of Srinivasa Acarya.  He belonged to the Sripata at Borakuli village.  His father was Govinda (Bhavak Cakravarti) and his brothers were Radhavinod and Kisori dasa.  (Karnananda 1)

97.RAJENDRA BANDYOPADHYAY:

He was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya and belonged to Sripata Kancangadia.  He married Malati and Fullari, the two daughters of Kumud Cattaraja (Kalanidhi Cattaraja), who was the father-in-law of Srinivasa Acarya's daughter.  (Karnananda 1)

98.RAJENDRA GOSVAMI:

He was the nephew of Sanatana Gosvami and belonged to the sakha of Lord Caitanya (CC. 1.11.85, BRK. 6.278-279).

According to the book Vrajdarpanda (P. 27), when Rajendra listened to Mathurlila on the bank of Radhakunda, he suddenly became like a madman and began rushing towards Mathura to fetch Lord Krsna, but he died a short distance away south of Radhakunda,
 where his mortal remains are preserved.

99.RAJIV PANDITA:

He was a brahmana by caste and a devotee of Lord Gauranga at Navadvipa.  (Namamrtasamudra (224), Vaisnava Vandana of Jiva Gosvami (272) and Vrndavanadasa (131).

100.RAKHALANANDA THAKURA:

He was a descendant in the family-line of Narahari Sarkara of Srikhanda.  He wrote a commentary on Bhakticandrika, published Sri Krsnabhajanamrta, and edited the Vaisnava periodical Gauranga-madhuri.  A noted devotee of Lord Gauranga, he illuminated
the name of Madhumati Samiti.

101.RAMA:

An impoverished brahmana from South India.  In order to receive the grace of Lord Jagannatha, Rama starved himself for seven days shortly before the death of Lord Caitanya.  Having failed to achieve his desired goal, Rama decided to give up his life
by plunging himself into the sea.  However, he happened to meet Bibhisan, who gave him sound spiritual advice.  Rama followed along behind Bibhisan and eventually found himself in the presence of Lord Caitanya.  Bibhisan gave a large amount of wealth
 to Rama.  (Caitanyamangala Sesa 4.4.91)

102.RAMA:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Caitanya. (CC. 1.10.110)

103.RAMA ACARYA:

He was a devotee of Advaita Prabhu. (Premavilasa 19)

104.RAMABHADRA:

He was the son of Lord Nityananda who died at a young age.  (Narottamavilasa 13)

105.RAMABHADRA:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Nityananda.  (CC. 1.11.53)

106.RAMABHADRA:

He was a disciple of Syamananda prabhu and belonged to Sripata Balarampura.  (Premavilasa 20)

107.RAMABHADRA:

He was the elder brother of Visvanatha Cakravarti and a disciple of Gopikanta, the son of Hariramacarya. (Narottamavilasa 12)

108.RAMABHADRA:

He was the son of Nityananda who died at a young age. (Narottamavilasa 13)

109.RAMABHADRA:

He belonged to the branch of Nityananda Prabhu.  (CC. 1.11.53)

110.RAMABHADRA:

He lived in Balarampura and was a disciple of Syamananda prabhu.  (Premavilasa 20)

111.RAMABHADRA:

He was the disciple of Sri Gopikanta, the son of Sri Hariramacarya, who was the elder brother of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti.  (Narottamavilasa 12)

112.RAMABHADRA ACARYA:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Caitanya (CC. 1.10.148). After Lord Caitanya returned to Puri from His pilgrimage in the south, this Ramabhadra and Bhagavan Acarya attended the Lord with great dedication.  According to Bimanbihari Majumdar (CCU P. 6
80) this Ramabhadra is called Rama Bhattacarya, a brahmana from Nilacala.  (CC. 2.10.177, BMO. P. 90)

113.RAMABHADRACARYA:

He belonged to the sakha of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (CC.1.10.148)

114.RAMABHADRA RAYA:

He was a disciple of Narottama Thakura.  (Premavilasa 20, Narottamavilasa 12)

115.RAMACANDRA:

He was the youngest son of Viracandra Prabhu. (Premavilasa 24)

116.RAMACANDRA:

He was a resident of Srikhanda and belonged to the sakha of Raghunandana Thakura.

117.RAMACANDRA:

He was a Vaisnava poet.

118.RAMACANDRA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu. (Rasikamangala Pascima 14.136)

119.RAMACANDRA DASA:

He was a devotee of Lord Gauranga.  (Vaisnava Vandana)

120.RAMACANDRA DASA BABAJI:

He lived in a concrete hut located across Raghunathganj in Jangipur in the district of Mursidabad.  From observing the contemporary devotees of Lord Gauranga, he realized that the community lacked patrons who could enrich it.  He therefore inspired M
anindracandra Nandi, the Maharaja of Cossimbazar to render service to the Vaisnavas on a large scale.

In 1907 A.D. Kaminikumar Ghosh had a meeting with Ramacandra in his garden at Jangipur for two hours.  Though more than 110 years of age at that time, Ramacandra appeared to be 70-72 years old.  Upon inquiring about Kamini's guru, Ramacandra found th
at he and Kamini were related through spiritual lineage.  Soon after this meeting Ramacandra passed away.

121.RAMACANDRA DVIJA:

Biographers of Lord Caitanya and the compilers of Vaisnava Vandana (of Jiva 243, Devakinandana 137, and Vrndavanadasa 110), mention him along with the Oriya followers of Lord Caitanya as a resident of Nilacala.

Jai Krishna Dasa specifically refers to Ramacandra Dvija along with the Oriya devotees, Balarama dasa, Natha dasa, Susu Krsna dasa and Madhava Pattanayaka, which indicates that he was a contemporary of the Pancasakha devotees.  (See Sri Caitanya Pari
sad Janmasthan Nirnaya, Sahitya Parisat Patrika 1337 (1930 A.D., no. 4)

In Gurubhaktigita (Utkal University ed. Vol. 3, Chapter XLIX P. 176) Acyutananda dasa refers to Ramacandra as Bisakhajutha. Unpublished manuscripts such as Anuragakalpalata, Brajabihar and Vaisnava-abhidhan give some information on this Ramacandra.

In Krsnadasa Kaviraja's Sri Caitanyaganoddesaddipika (ms. preserved in Orissa State Museum, catalogue no. L. 470 {B}), he is described as a Pandita and a follower of Lord Caitanya.

122.RAMACANDRA GOSVAMI (RAMAI):

Sri Vansivadana Thakura had two sons-Sri Caitanya dasa and Sri Nityananda dasa.  Sri Ramacandra Gosvami was the son of Sri Caitanya dasa.  He was a very influential Acarya and was called the second Vansivadana Thakura.

He was brought up as a disciple by Sri Jahnava Mata. Later he went to Mathura via Puri, Kasi and Prayaga, where he visited the birth place of Sri Krsna-Adi Kesava, as well as the twelve forests of Gokula.  After a few years he returned to Gauda bring
ing two Deities of Rama and Krsna.  He soon became well-known for his devotion, honesty, strict adherence to religious principles and knowledge of Bhakti-sastras.  His fame spread rapidly and many learned and wealthy persons became his disciples.

At that time Amvika nagara was in the midst of a jungle full of tigers.  Ramacandra tamed the tigers and made the place inhabitable.  He and his disciples lived there and named the place Bhaghnapada.  In his writings, Sri Bhaktivinoda has mentioned t
he reason behind the name Bhaghnapada.  (See Bhaktivinoda Thakurera Svalikhita Jivani)

At Baghnapada Sri Ramacandra Gosvami installed the Deities of Rama and Krsna which he had got when he took bath on the bank of Praskanda Tirtha.  Sri Ramacandra Gosvami was a famous pada composer.  He wrote Karaca Manjari, Samputika and Pasanda Dalan
a.  He was born in Saka 1459 (according to GVJ. he was born in 1456) and died in 1505 in the month of Magha (Jan-Feb) on the third day of the black fortnight.  Sometimes he stayed in Budhuri village and other times he stayed at Radhanagar near Baghna
pada.  He was  a life-long brahmacari. He initiated his younger brother Sacinandana and appointed him the priest of Baghnapada. Thus Sacinandana and his family lived in Baghnapada.  In due course, Sri Bipin Bihari Gosvami and others were born in this
 family. (See also Vamsisiksa)

123.RAMACANDRA GUHA:

From the stone inscriptions of the temple of Sri Madanamohana built by Sri Gunananda Guha, it is understood that Ramacandra was the father of Gunananda.  He came from East Bengal and settled first at Saptagrama and later became an official under the
King of Gauda. He had three sons: Bhavananda, Gunananda and Sivananda, all of whom occupied important positions in the royal service.

124.RAMACANDRA KAVIRAJA:

He was an intimate friend of Sri Narottama Thakura, they were practically inseparable.  Sri Ramacandra also received a lot of mercy from Srinivasa Acarya.  His parents were Sri Ciranjiva and Sri Sunanda devi.  Sri Ciranjiva lived in Kumara nagara unt
il he married the daughter of Damodara poet and came to live in Srikhanda.  Sri Ciranjiva was a great devotee and Sri Narahari loved him more than his own life.  Sri Mukunda dasa, Sri Narahari, Sri Raghunandana and Sri Ciranjiva lived in Srikhanda an
d were extremely close friends.  Every year they visited Puri together for the Ratha-yatra, where they danced and sang in front of the Ratha after having the darsana of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya.

Sri Ciranjiva was born in a Vaidya community and had two sons--Sri Ramacandra and Sri Govinda, who were both very meritorious.  After receiving the mercy of Srinivasa, the brothers came to live in Teliabudhuri village in the Mursidabad district.

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja was extremely intelligent, enterprising and handsome.  His maternal grandfather was the great poet Sri Damodara Kaviraja, who was a Sakti worshiper. Because Ramacandra and Sri Govinda stayed at their grandfather's house after
their father's death, they were both influenced by the Sakta religion.  Sri Ramacandra Sen was a physician and a great poet.

After Ramacandra's marriage ceremony he passed through the streets of Yajigrama on his way home.  There he saw Srinivasa Acarya sitting on the veranda of his house discussing topics of Krsna.  Simply by seeing Srinivasa, Ramacandra suddenly experienc
ed ecstatic emotions.  Srinivasa was also moved by the presence of Ramacandra and inquired about him from his disciples.  Hearing about him, Srinivasa smiled slightly.

When Ramacandra arrived at his house he felt extremely restless and as soon as the night arrived, he left for Yajigrama.  After spending the night in a brahmana's house, Ramacandra arrived the next morning at the Acarya's house and fell prostrate in
front of him.  Srinivasa, who had also been eager to meet Ramacandra, embraced him with great joy saying, "Birth after birth you are my dear friend.  In a similar way, in Vrndavana the Supreme Lord arranged that I meet Sri Narottama."  (BRK. 8.530-53
2,574)

Sri Ramacandra happily began studying the Gosvamis books under the guidance of Srinivasa, who was extremely pleased by Ramacandra's persistence and piety.  After some time, at an auspicious time, Srinivasa Acarya initiated Ramacandra in Radha-Krsna m
antra.

After spending some time in Yajigrama, Ramacandra returned to his home.  Seeing that Ramacandra had accepted the Vaisnava religion, the Saktas became furious.  Oblivious to there complaints, Kaviraja continued to decorate his body with tilaka and cha
nt the holy name of Sri Hari in front of everyone.  One When Sri Ramacandra was returning to his house after taking his bath, the Saktas confronted him and asked why he had rejected his grandfathers religion and accepted Vaisnavism.  Sri Ramacandra r
eplied, "Siva and Brahma are "Gunatmaka Avatars" of Sri Krsna.  Sri Krsna is the root of all avatars, so by worshiping Lord Krsna, the purpose of worshiping all others is fully served.  Prahlad, Dhruva, Bibhisana and others were devotees of Sri Krsna
, therefore Siva and Brahma were very pleased with them.  But Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Bana and others were worshipers of Lord Siva, yet they were against the supremacy of Sri Hari, thus Lord Siva Himself destroyed them.  It is written in the sastras tha
t by virtue of worshiping Sri Visnu, Brahma was able to create the world; and by virtue of keeping Ganges on His head, Siva was able to benefit the world--as the Ganges in the water which has washed the feet of Visnu."  Hearing this the astonished Sm
arta panditas were unable to say anything further.

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja was extremely eager to visit Vrndavana and meet the Gosvamis there.  After receiving permission from Sri Raghunandana Thakura and other Vaisnavas, Sri Ramacandra started his journey to Vrndavana on an auspicious day.  Along th
e way he visited Gaya, Kasi, Prayaga and other holy places.  When he finally arrived in Mathura he went to Visram Ghat and took bath in the Yamuna, then visited the birth place of Sri Krsna--Adi Kesava.  At that time Srinivasa Acarya was living in Vr
ndavana, thus when Ramacandra arrived there he first worshiped the feet of Sri Acarya and Sri Jiva Gosvami, and conveyed the news of the devotees in Bengal.  As desired by Sri Jiva Gosvami, he visited Sri Govinda, Sri Gopinatha, Sri Madanamohana and
the samadhi of Sri Sanatana.  He also visited Sri Gopala Bhatta, Sri Lokanatha, Sri Bhugarbha and other Gosvamis.  Observing Ramacandra's excellent poetical talent, the devotees honored him with the title "Kaviraja."  (Bhaktiratnakara 9.214)

After spending some time in Vrndavana, Ramacandra took permission from the Gosvamis and returned to Bengal.  He visited Srikhanda, Yajigrama, Khardaha, Amvika-Kalna and finally arrived in Navadvipa Mayapura.  At that time the very old Isana Thakura w
as staying in the house of Jagannatha Misra in Mayapura.  Sri Ramacandra introduced himself and worshiped his lotus feet, Isana, in turn, kindly bestowed his mercy upon him.  Sri Ramacandra was extremely dear to both Srinivasa Acarya and Srila Narott
ama dasa Thakura.

Once some Smarta brahmanas-followers of Sakti-came to Kheturi with the idea of defaming the Vaisnavas by defeating Sri Narottama Thakura.  Raja Narasimha and Sri Rupa-Narayana were amongst those panditas.  Upon hearing of their intentions, Sri Ramaca
ndra and Sri Ganganarayana Cakravarti became determined to defeat those scholars.  They devised a unique scheme which easily defeated the so-called panditas.

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja purified many fallen conditioned souls.  He also took the leading role in the festival at Kheturi.  After being advised by Narottama and Srinivasa, Ramacandra again went to Vrndavana.  However, during his absence from Vrndavan
a, the Gosvamis had all passed away. Thus Ramacandra was overwhelmed with grief.  After some time in Vrndavana he to passed away on the third day of the dark fortnight in the month of Pausa (Dec-Jan), while remembering the lotus feet of Sri Krsna and
 Sri Radhika.

Sri Harirama Acarya was one of his disciples.  (Also see Bhaktamala 19.1)

125.RAMACANDRA KAVIRAJA:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Nityananda (CC. 1.11.51).  According to Bimanbihari Majumdar (CCU. P.679) the Gaudiya Math edition of CC. describes this Ramacandra as the son of Ciranjiva Sen, but this statement was rejected by Mrnalkanti Ghosh in h
is introduction to Gaurapadatarngini P. 104.

Ramgopal dasa in his Sakha-varnan refers to one Ramacandra as a disciple of Raghunandana.

126.RAMACANDRA KHAN:

This Ramacandra Khan of Catrabhoga was born in 1480 A.D. in the family of Makaranda Ghosh (14th generation).  His original title was Ghosh, but Hussain Shah Vadshah gave him the titles of "Khan", "Roy", and "Mahasaya".  He lived at Bhadrakali village
, north of Valigrama in the district of Howrah, and married the daughter of Purandara Khan Gopinatha Basu, the minister of Hussain Shah.  Ramacandra Khan was also one of the Vadshah's high ranking officials and was given an enormous amount of power.
 For some time he was the Adhikari of Catrabhoga. After the death of Hussain Shah and after the defeat of the Mughal emperor Humaun at the hands of Sher Shah in 1540 A.D., Sher Shah became the emperor of Delhi.  Sher Shah divided Bengal into a number
 of Subas and appointed one Subahdar for each Suba.  At that time Ramacandra received a Suba which extended from Hijli Kanthi in Midnapore to the extreme southern part of Orissa.  Thus, for the benefit of his Suba, Ramacandra had to live at Jalesvara
.  Around this time misfortune came to Ramacandra.  He was imprisoned for not giving the annual cess to the Vadshah.  With the little money that his relatives had they tried to free Ramacandra from prison, but Ramacandra, realizing that such a small
amount of money would not release him, decided to use the money to help set the other Zamindars free.  This broad-minded attitude pleased the Nawab, who respectfully set Ramacandra free and gave him the title "Mahasaya".

When Lord Caitanya passed by Chatrabhog on His way to Puri after accepting sannyasa, Ramacandra had the good fortune of meeting the Lord (CBh. 3.2.82).  Chatrabhog is located under Mathurapur police station under 24 Parganas.  In 1509 A.D. the course
 of the Ganges flowed that way and hence the route to Puri by boat passed via Chatrabhog.

This was also the period when a fight arose between the Subadar of Bengal and Prataparudra Maharaja over the land boundaries.  Madla Panji (the chronicle of the temple of Jagannatha Puri) records that in 1510 A.D. Ismail, the Commander of Hussain Sha
h's army, invaded Orissa.  Thus at the time when Lord Caitanya was on His way to Puri, the road was quite dangerous.  Soldiers of the two Kings set up camps on their boundaries on the land between the river Bhagirathi and the river Subarnarekha (CBh.
 3.2.97-99).

When Ramacandra saw the Lord's ecstatic state of divine love, he was overwhelmed and stood humbly with folded hands. Lord Caitanya then requested Ramacandra to assure that He reached Puri safely.  Ramacandra staked his own life to personally escort L
ord Caitanya to the border of Orissa.
Every year in the month of Caitra a bathing festival called Nandasnana is celebrated at Chatrabhog.  Vaisnava historians argue that this festival celebrates the arrival of Lord Caitanya at Chatrabhog.

127.RAMACANDRA KHAN (BENAPOL):

He was born in a Srotriya Radhiya brahmana family and his original name was Santidhara--Khan was his title.  He lived at Kagaja-Pukhuriya village near the Benapol station of the East Bengal Railway in the district of Jessore.  Ramacandra was a Zamind
ar and a childhood friend of Hussain Shah.  He tried to degrade Srila Haridasa Thakura by sending a prostitute to him. Once Sri Nityananda Prabhu went to his house with the view of preaching Vaisnavism and sat on the pavilion of goddess Candi. Howeve
r, Ramacandra did not meet or talk to the Lord and after His departure, he ordered his servants to clean the pavilion by removing the outer layer of clay and washing it with water and cow-dung, as he considered that the place had become contaminated
by the touch of a Vaisnava (CC. 3.3.101-102). After this incident Ramacandra faced great misfortune.  When he failed to give cess to the King, the Ujir of the King attacked his house, looted his property, imprisoned him and even polluted the pavilion
 of Candi (CC. 3.156-160)

128.RAMACANDRA PURI:

In the eighth chapter of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Amrta-pravaha-bhasya he describes the history of the Lord's dealings with Ramacandra Puri.  Although Ramacandra Puri was one of the disciples of Madhavendra Puri, he was influenced by dry Mayavadi
s, and therefore he criticized Madhavendra Puri. Therefore Madhavendra Puri accused him of being an offender and rejected him.  Because Ramacandra Puri had been rejected by his spiritual master, he became concerned only with finding faults in others
and advising them according to dry Mayavada philosophy.  For this reason he was not very respectful to the Vaisnavas, and later he became so fallen that he began criticizing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for His eating.  Hearing his criticisms, Sri Caitany
a Mahaprabhu reduced His eating, but after Ramacandra Puri left Jagannatha Puri, the Lord resumed His usual behavior.

Because Ramacandra Puri was a disciple of Madhavendra Puri, both Paramananda Puri and Lord Caitanya offered him respectful obeisances.  Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments that although Ramacandra Puri was naturally very envious and behaved ag
ainst the principles of Vaisnavism, common people addressed him as Gosvami or Gosain because he was superficially in the renounced order and dressed like a sannyasi.  In the modern age the title "Gosvami" is used by a caste of grhasthas, but formerly
 it was not.  Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, for example, were called Gosvami because they were in the renounced order.  Similarly, because Paramananda Puri was a sannyasi, he was called Puri Gosvami. By careful scrutiny, therefore, one will find
 that Gosvami is not the title for a certain caste, rather, it is the proper title for a person in the renounced order.

Lord Caitanya offered obeisances to Ramacandra Puri in consideration of his being a disciple of Madhavendra Puri, the spiritual master of Isvara Puri.  Ramacandra Puri could not understand that when his spiritual master, Madhavendra Puri, was chantin
g the holy name and crying, "O my Lord, I did not get shelter at Mathura." he was feeling transcendental separation.  This was not ordinary material lamentation. Ramacandra Puri was not spiritually advanced enough to understand the exalted feelings o
f Madhavendra Puri, although he thought himself very advanced.  Therefore when Ramacandra Puri advised Madhavendra Puri to remember Brahman, Madhavendra Puri understood that Ramacandra Puri was a great fool and thoroughly rebuked him.  On the contrar
y, Isvara Puri was always chanting the holy name and pastimes of Lord Krsna for Madhavendra Puri to hear.  In this way he helped Madhavendra Puri remember the Lord at the time of death.  Pleased with Isvara Puri, Madhavendra Puri embraced him and gav
e him the benediction that he would be a great devotee and lover of Krsna.  Thus Isvara Puri became like an ocean of ecstatic love for Krsna, whereas Ramacandra Puri became a dry speculator and a critic of everyone.

The devotees considered Ramacandra Puri to be like a great burden on their heads.  Thus when he left Jagannatha Puri every was extremely happy, as if a great stone burden had suddenly fallen from their heads to the ground. (Vaisnava Vandana of Jiva G
osvami 125, of Devakinandana 45, of Vrndavanadasa 43)

129.RAMACARANA:

He was a disciple of Hemalata Thakurani, the daughter of Srinivasa Acarya.  (Karnananda 2)

130.RAMACARANA CAKRAVARTI:

He was also known as Ramacarana and Ramadasa.  He was a disciple and a brother-in-law of Srinivasa Acarya. Ramacarana's father was Gopala Cakravarti and his elder brother was Syamadasa.  He belonged to Sripata Faridpur in the district of Nadia (altho
ugh some say that it was at Baigon village in Katoa).  (BRK. 10.141, 8.499, Karnananda 1)

131.RAMADASA:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Caitanya.  (CC. 1.10.116, See "Abhirama Gosvami")

132.RAMADASA:

He was the second son of Sivananda Sen.  In his past incarnation he was Bicaksan Suka.  (GGD. 145)

133.RAMADASA:

He was a disciple of Bhugarbha Gosvami.  (Premavilasa 17)

134.RAMADASA:

He was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya.  (Karnananda 1)

135.RAMADASA:

He was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya and the son of Ballabhi Kavipati.  He was a resident of Vanavisnupur.

136.RAMADASA:

He was Kurangaksi in Vraja lila.  (GGD. 197,207; CCU)

137.RAMADASA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu.  A resident of Janhagram, his wife was Draupadi and his son was Dinasyama dasa.

138.RAMADASA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu.  (Rasikamangala Pascima 14.142)

139.RAMADASA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu.  (Rasikamangala Pascima 14.159)

140.RAMADASA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu.  (Rasikamangala 14.160)

141.RAMADASA (SRI RAMACANDRA):

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He went to West Mathura (Madura) from Kamakosthi.  At that time, this brahmana devotee, Ramadasa, invited the Lord to his home. Though when the Lord came, Ramadasa was so absorbed in chanting the
name of Rama that he totally forgot to cook for Mahaprabhu.  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu finished His noon duties and upon finding that nothing had been cooked, inquired from the brahmana.  In an ecstatic mood Ramadasa replied, "My Prabhu is living in th
e forest, where will he get items for cooking?  If Laksmana brings fruits and vegetables collected from the forest, then Sita can cook something for Prabhu (CC. 2.9.183-196)."  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very happy to observe the ecstacy of the brah
mana, but when Ramadasa regained his external senses, he was very ashamed that he had not cooked for the Lord.  He hastily prepared some food and fed the Lord, but he himself took nothing.  When Mahaprabhu told him to eat something, the brahmana repl
ied, "There is no reason for me to maintain my life.  I shall give up my life by entering into fire.  Sita is Mahalaksmi and the mother of the universe, yet the demons touched her and I cannot bear to hear this."  Understanding the brahmana's sorrow
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained, "Do not think like this, you are supposed to be a learned man.  Don't you know that Sita is the eternal consort of the Supreme Lord Sri Ramacandra?  There is no power in this world which is able to touch her.  It wa
s only the maya (false) feature of Sita which the demons touched."  Ramadasa was greatly relieved to hear this and at last took his meal.
 
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