

176.RAMANA DASA:

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

177.RAMANANDA:

Jayananda mentions his name in his CM. P. 73, as the maternal uncle of Gadadhara Pandita.

178.RAMANANDA BASU:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Caitanya.  In his past incarnation he was Kalakanthi of Vraja (GGD. 173).  He was a resident of Kulina-grama and a Vaisnava poet (CC. 1.10.80,82,86, 2.15.98,106, 2.16.72-74, 1.11.48).  He has been referred to in the f
ollowing works:  Murari Gupta's Krsncaitanyacaritam 4.17.13, Kavi Karnapura's Caitanya Candrodaya-natakam 9.2, Vaisnava Vandana of Jiva Gosvami 239, Devakinandana 115 and Vrndavanadasa 108.

179.RAMANANDA BASU:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Nityananda.  (CC. 1.11.48)

180.RAMANANDA DASA BABAJI:

He was born in Srihatta and was a vairagi from the time of his youth.  After traveling to the four dhama's by foot, he finally reached Vrndavana.  There he came in contact with Vamakaupina, a sub-sect of Srila Narottama Thakura's branch. Thereafter h
e began wearing his kaupina with the knot tied on the right side, rather than the left-as done previously.  With the help of Rajarsi Bahadura, he went to Sri Syamakunda, but later returned to Vinode bagh in Vrndavana and lived with Rajarsi Bahadura.
 His heart was full of love and he was completely free from jealousy and dishonesty.  He was extremely fond of kirtana.  After the death of Sri Rajarsi Bahadura and his wife, Ramananda dasa took charge of Sri Sri Vinode's service.

Once, during the month of Bhadra (Aug-Sept) he was feeling ill and thus sent a message to Sri Madhava dasa and Sri Kamini Kumar Ghosh to inform them.  Upon receiving the message they immediately went to Vinode bagh.  On that day, as usual, Sri Ramana
nda dasa listened to Bhagavata and kirtana by Sri Ramdasa babaji and at night bade farewell to the singers giving them money and food.  Afterwards, Sri Madhava dasa, Sri Kamini Kumar and Sri Bipin Bihari started kirtana.  At mid-night Ramananda dasa
asked their permission to retire to his room as he was feeling cold.  He then smiled at Kamini babu and entered his room.  At 2:00 A.M., they went into his room to check on him and found that Sri Ramananda dasa babaji had departed from this world.

181.RAMANANDA MANGARAJA:

He was a devotee of Lord Gauranga.  (Namamrtasamudra 168)

182.RAMANANDA MISRA:

He was the younger brother of Jayananda, the author of Caitanyamangala.  (See "Jayananda dasa")

183.RAMANANDA RAYA:

Five hundred years ago in the district of Puri, in the village of Bentapur adjacent to Brahmagiri Alalnath, there lived a great devotee named Bhavananda Raya.  Bhavananda had five sons, the eldest of which was Ramananda.  Descendants of this family-l
ine are known as Choudhury Pattanayaka.  It is said that Lord Caitanya visited the birth-place of Ramananda in Alalnath every year.

Ramananda was the Governor of East and West Godavari and a minister of King Prataparudra.  A great statesman of that period, Ramananda was also a poet and a scholar.  When Bhavananda met Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord embraced him and said, "Forme
rly you appeared as Pandu, and your five sons appeared as the five Pandavas."  The five sons of Bhavananda Raya were Ramananda Raya, Pattanayaka Gopinatha, Kalanidhi, Sudhanidhi and Nayaka Vaninatha.

The Gauraganoddesadipika (120-124) states that Ramananda Raya was Arjuna in his past incarnation.  He is also considered to have been an incarnation of the gopi Lalita, although in the opinion of others he was an incarnation of Visakha devi.  He was
a most confidential devotee of Lord Caitanya.  Lord Caitanya said, "Although I am a sannyasi, My mind is sometimes perturbed when I see a woman.  But Ramananda Raya is greater than Me, for he is always undisturbed, even when he touches a woman."  Onl
y Ramananda Raya was able to act in this way, no one should imitate him.  Unfortunately there are rascals who imitate the activities of Ramananda Raya.

In Lord Caitanya's final pastimes, both Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara were always engaged in reciting suitable verses from Srimad Bhagavatam to pacify the Lord in His ecstatic feelings of separation from Krsna.  When Lord Caitanya was about to
leave for South India, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya advised him to meet Ramananda Raya for he declared that there was no devotee as advanced in understanding the conjugal love of Krsna and the gopis.

While touring South India Lord Caitanya met Ramananda on the bank of the Godavari.  There they had a long discourse in which the Lord took the role of a student and Ramananda Raya instructed the Lord.  Lord Caitanya concluded these discourses by sayi
ng, "My dear Ramananda Raya, both you and I are madmen, and therefore we met intimately, on an equal level."

Lord Caitanya advised Ramananda Raya to resign from his government post and come back to Jagannatha Puri to live with Him.  It was Ramananda Raya who tactfully arranged a meeting between Lord Caitanya and King Prataparudra of Orissa. Ramananda Raya w
as present when the Lord performed water-sports after the Ratha-yatra festival.

Lord Caitanya considered Ramananda Raya and Sanatana Gosvami to be equal in their renunciation, for although Ramananda Raya was a grhasta engaged in government service and Sanatana Gosvami was in the renounced order of complete detachment from materi
al activities, they were both servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and kept Krsna in the center of all their activities.  Ramananda Raya was one of the three and a half personalities with whom Lord Caitanya discussed most confidential topic
s of Krsna consciousness. Lord Caitanya advised Pradyumna Misra to learn the science of Krsna from Ramananda Raya.  As Subala always assisted Krsna in His dealing with Radharani in Krsna-lila, so Ramananda Raya assisted Lord Caitanya in His feelings
of separation from Krsna.  Ramananda Raya was the author of Jagannatha-vallabha-nataka.

In Iswar dasa's Caitanya Bhagavata (ed. A.B. Mohanty, Utkal University) a comprehensive description is given of Lord Caitanya's relationship with Ramananda Raya  After hearing Ramananda Raya speak about the essence of premabhakti, Lord Caitanya, with
 tears in His eyes and overwhelmed with emotion, warmly embraced Ramananda.

In the Gurbhaktigita of Acyutananda dasa (Utkal University Vol. 3, Chapter XLIX P. 176) the author describes Ramananda as Visakha, which is supported by Svarupavarnana (ms. of Rupa Gosvami preserved in Utkal University Library, Catalogue no. O.L. 382
) and Caitanyaganoddesa (ms. of Sadasiva Kaviraja, preserved in Orissa State Museum).

Lord Caitanya's discourses with Raya Ramananda are fully described in CC.  First of all, Srila Ramananda Raya enunciated the system of the varnasrama institution.  He recited various verses about karmarpana, stating that everything should be dedicate
d to the Lord.  He then spoke of detached action, knowledge mixed with devotional service, and finally the spontaneous loving service of the Lord.  After hearing Srila Ramananda Raya recite some verses, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the principle
of pure devotional service devoid of all the kinds of speculation.   After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya to explain the higher platform of devotional service.  Then Srila Ramananda Raya explained unalloyed devotional service, lov
e of Godhead, serving the Lord with pure servitude as well as in fraternity and parental love.  Finally he spoke of serving the Lord in conjugal love.  He then spoke of how conjugal love can be developed in various ways.  This conjugal love attains i
ts highest perfection in Srimati Radharani's love for Krsna.  He next described the position of Srimati Radharani and the transcendental mellows of love of God.  Srila Ramananda Raya then recited one verse of his own concerning the platform of ecstat
ic vision, technically called prem-vilasa-vivarta. Srila Ramananda Raya also explained that all stages of conjugal love can be attained through the mercy of the residents of Vrndavana, especially by the mercy of the gopis. All these subject matters w
ere thus vividly described.  (BMO. P. 91-92)

The meeting of Lord Caitanya and Sri Ramananda Raya is further described in GPC.  After bathing in the River Godavari, the Lord walked a little distance from the bathing place and engaged in chanting the holy name of Krsna.  At that time, accompanied
 by the sounds of music, Ramananda Raya came there mounted on a palanquin to take his bath.  Many brahmanas, following the Vedic principles, accompanied Ramananda Raya.  According to the Vedic rituals, Ramananda Raya took his bath and offered oblatio
ns to his forefathers.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that the person who had come to bathe in the river was Ramananda Raya.  The Lord wanted so much to meet him that His mind immediately began running after him. Although the Lord was running after him mentally,
He patiently remained sitting.  Ramananda Raya, seeing the wonderful sannyasi, then came to see Him.  Srila Ramananda Raya then saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as brilliant as a hundred suns.  The Lord was covered by a saffron garment. He was large in bo
dy and very strongly built, and His eyes were like lotus petals.  When Ramananda Raya saw the wonderful sannyasi, he was struck with wonder.  He went to Him and immediately offered his respectful obeisances, falling down like a rod.  The Lord stood u
p and asked Ramananda Raya to arise and chant the holy name of Krsna.  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then inquired whether he was Ramananda Raya, and he replied, "Yes I am Your very low servant, and I belong to the sudra community."  The Lord then embraced
 him very firmly. Indeed, both the master and the servant almost lost consciousness due to ecstatic love.

After composing themselves, they sat down and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya has spoken of your good qualities, and he has made a great endeavor to convince Me to meet you.  Indeed I have come here just to meet you. It is very
 good that even without making an effort I have gotten your interview here."  Ramananda Raya replied, "Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya thinks of me as his servant.  Even in my absence he is very careful to do me good.  By his mercy I have received Your inter
view here.  Consequently I consider that today I have become a successful human being.  I can see that You have bestowed special mercy upon Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya.  Therefore You have touched me, although I am untouchable.  This is due only to his l
ove for You.  You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana Himself, and I am only a government servant interested in materialistic activities.  Indeed, I am the lowest amongst men of the fourth caste.  You do not fear the Vedic injunctions st
ating that You should not associate with a sudra.  You were not contemptuous of my touch, although in the Vedas You are forbidden to associate with sudras.  At this time a brahmana Vaisnava came and invited the Lord for lunch, and after arranging to
meet Ramananda Raya again later the Lord departed.

After finishing His evening bath, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sat down and waited for Ramananda Raya to come.  Then Ramananda Raya, accompanied by one servant, came to meet Him. He offered his respectful obeisances, and the Lord embraced him.  Then they
both began to discuss Krsna in a secluded place for the entire night.

Again the next evening Sri Ramananda Raya visited Mahaprabhu and paid obeisances.  Mahaprabhu fondly embraced him and began questioning him as follows"

Q:What is the best education among all kinds of learning?
A:Devotion for Krsna is by far the best learning.
Q:What is the achievement of a living being?
A:The best glory is to take the post of servant of Sri Radha and Krsna.
Q:What is the best religion for a living being?
A:Love for Sri Radha-Govinda is the best religion.
Q:Which creature suffers the most?
A:A devotee who is suffering due to separation from the Lord.
Q:Who is the most liberated person?
A:One who loves Krsna is the most renounced person.
Q:Which is the best song?
A:Songs about the pastimes of Radha and Krsna
Q:What is the greatest well-being for a living entity?
A:The association of Krsna's devotees.
Q:What is the only thing to remember?
A:Krsna's name, beauty and qualities
Q:What is the only object of meditation?
A:The lotus feet of Radha Govinda
Q:Which is the best place for a living entity to reside?
A:The place where Krsna's pastimes are performed.
Q:What is the best thing to hear?
A:The loving pastimes of Radha-Govinda
Q:What is the only subject matter for a living entity to sing?
A:The name of Radha Govinda
Q:What is the fate of a person who has worldly desires and of a man who desires liberation?
A:Animate body, and celestial body
Q:What are the characteristics of a devotee and of a knowledgeable person?
A:A so-called intelligent person, who is like a crow, eats the fruits of wisdom from the bitter Nim tree, whereas the devotee is a cuckoo who drinks the nectar of love.

Gradually Ramananda Raya could understand the position of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and when the Lord exhibited His real form, Ramananda Raya fell unconscious.  The Lord then requested Ramananda Raya, "Now there is no confidential activity unknown to
you.  Keep all these talks a secret. Please do not expose them anywhere and everywhere.  Since My activities appear to be like those of a madman, people may take them lightly and laugh.  Indeed, I am a madman, and you are also a madman.  Therefore bo
th of us are on the same platform.

The next day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu begged Ramananda Raya to give Him permission to leave, and at the time of farewell the Lord gave him the following orders:  "Give up all material engagements and come to Jagannatha Puri.  I will return there very
 soon after finishing My tour and pilgrimage. The two of us shall remain together at Jagannatha Puri and happily pass our time discussing Krsna."  Later, with the permission of King Prataparudra, Ramananda Raya went to Puri.

Sri Svarupa Damodara was the dear-most friend of Sri Ramananda Raya.  Having written dramas on the pastimes of Krsna, Ramananda had them performed before Sri Jagannatha deva by the Devadasis of the temple. Sri Ramananda Raya died after the disappeara
nce of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

184.RAMANANDA SVAMI:

He was born in Saka 1222 (1300 A.D.) in the holy city of Prayaga in the family of a Kanauj brahmana named Puyasadau and his wife Sushila Devi.  Ramananda's family name was Ramadatta. He went to Benares to study but coming in contact with Swami Raghav
ananda he gave up his interest in higher studies and took spiritual initiation from Raghavananda in the six-lettered Rama mantra, after which he was christened "Ramananda."  He then took up the vow of a wandering mendicant and dedicated himself to pr
eaching the message of Vaisnavism and devotion to Rama.  Svami Raghavananda was a disciple of Swami Hariyananda, who belonged to the 21st generation descending from Ramanuja Acarya.  Later generations of devotees descending from this Ramananda worshi
ped Lord Rama as the Avatara and considered this community as a separate body. However another group of devotees considered Ramananda as the Ansavatara of Lord Rama and show the line of Acaryas as descending from Ramanuja to Ramananda. Nabhaji, the a
uthor of the Hindi Bhaktamala, belonged to the second group. The story of the circumstances leading to the birth of Ramananda is given in Bhavisyapurana 4.7.

185.RAMANARAYANA MISRA (CANDRABHAGA):

He was a disciple of Harinatha, who was the son of Damodara dasa.  Damodara was the younger brother of Gopinatha Pujari, who was a priest of the Deity Radharamana and a follower of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.

Ramanarayana left the mark of his profound erudition by writing an elaborate commentary titled Bhavabhava-vibhavika on the Rasapancadyayi section of Srimad Bhagavatam.

He wrote another detailed and scholarly commentary titled Prabhu on the Sri Gaurangacandrodaya included in the Vayupurana.  In addition he wrote a "Suksatama vrtti" on Brahmasutra which in places seems to be unharmonious with the tradition of Lord Ca
itanya.

186.RAMANARYANA VIDYARATNA:

Originally a resident of Jaipur, he later settled at Baharampur in Bengal.  He edited and published a large number of Vaisnava texts from the Radha Raman Press, Baharampur with the aid of the King of Agartala.

187.RAMANATHA:

He was a disciple of Narottama Thakura.  His father was named Bipradasa and mother Bhagavati.  His brother was Jadunatha.  It was from the granary of Bipradasa that the Deity of Lord Gauranga was found and installed by Narottama Thakura.  (Premavilas
a 20, See also "Bipradasa")

188.RAMANATHA:

According to B.B. Majumdar in CCU. P. 681, he was one of the Catuhsana.

189.RAMANATHA BHADUDI:

A generous brahmana, who constructed a temple at Bhandirvana in the district of Birbhum to install the Deity of Gopala abandoned by Dhruva Gosvami and entrusted the Ghosal family with the responsibility for the Deity's service.

190.RAMANUJA:

The originator of the Visistadvaita school of Indian philosophy, Ramanuja was born in 1017 A.D. in Sriperumbudur in Tamilnadu.  Originally called Laksmana, he studied under Yadavaprakasa at Kanchi, but was estranged from his preceptor because of a di
spute regarding the interpretation of a few Upanisadic texts.  The grandson of Yamunacarya, Ramanuja was summoned to Srirangam to take the place of the former, who occupied the seat of the Acarya there.  It is said that Ramanuja reached Srirangam whe
n Yamunacarya was about to be consumed by flames.  At this point of time Ramanuja was initiated into Vedas by Perianambi at Madhurantakam.  He took sannyasa after this.

As a theologian he expounded his philosophy through his commentaries on the Brahmasutra and the Bhagavad-gita.  The former is titled Sribhasya.  The Vedanthat Samgraha is Ramanuja's philosophical work in lieu of the commentary on the Upanisads.

In 1099 A.D. Ramanuja is said to have installed the Deity at the temple of Melukote.  In addition to his theological treatises Ramanuja wrote the Gadyatraya consisting of the "Vaikuntha Gadya,"  "Raghuvira Gadya", and the "Saranagati Gadya."  These c
ompositions are acclaimed both for their literary merit and for their deep devotional quality.

191.RAMAPRASANNA GHOSH:

He wrote the following two works and published them in serial in the Gaudabhumi, a Bengali periodical, between 1312-1315 (1905-1908 A.D.):
1.Lalita-Gopala-Lilamrta, a summary of Lalitamadhava of Rupa Gosvami.
2.Vidagdha-Gopala-Lilamrta, a summary of Vidagdhamadhava of Rupa Gosvami.

192.RAMA RAYA:

He was a Vaisnava poet.  Pada no. 1844 of Padakalpataru is his composition.

193.RAMA RAYA:

A descendant of the family of a disciple of Lord Nityananda, this Rama Raya Gosvami is credited with the following works:  Gaura-vinodini vrtti, a commentary on Lord Caitanya's Siksastaka, Gauragita and  4,000 pada's composed in Vrajbasa .  He also t
ranslated in Vrajbasa verse the Gitagovinda.  Nabhaji refers to him in Bhaktamala.  He belonged to the family-line of the famous poet Jayadeva and his descendants continue to live at Biharipada in Vrndavana.

194.RAMASARAN:

He was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya.  (Premavilasa 20, Karnananda 1)

195.RAMASARAN CATTARAJA:

He was the younger brother of Syamadasa Cakravarti, a disciple of Ramacarana Cakravarti, who was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya.  Manohara dasa, the author of Anuragavalli was Ramasaran's disciple.  He lived at Bagankola near Katoa. (Anuragavalli

196.RAMA SEN:

He belonged to the sakha of Lord Nityananda.  (CC. 1.11.51)

197.RAMA RAMATANU MUKHOPADHYAYA:

He was born in Nadia and was the second of four brothers. When his elder brother, Vedantavagisa, was unable to find peace of mind even after deeply studying numerous subjects and sastras, he left home and traveled to many places of pilgrimage.  Final
ly he was blessed by the association of a Siddha Vaisnava Mahanta and took initiation in Sri Caitanya Vaisnavism.  After returning home he advised his younger brother, Ramatanu, to practice the Vaisnava religion. Ramatanu became proficient in Srimad
Bhagavatam and the Gosvami sastras and received the title Bhagavatabhusana.  He thus engaged himself in the bhajan of Gauranga with great delight.  While staying at his father-in-laws house in the village of Ula near Ranaghat, a predominantly Sakta v
illage, he was persecuted when he tried to preach Gaura Vaisnavism and then went to Jirat Balagad to live with his sister.  There he had the opportunity to preach Vaisnavism amongst the devotees.

Bhagavatabhusana met Siddha Caitanya dasa baba for the first time on the bank of the Ganges in Navadvipa.  From that point onward they spent remained together discussing spiritual subjects and taking darsana of Sri Gauranga.  On his request, Sri Cait
anya dasa  met Jioda Nrsimha Varat in Jirat Balagad. By the preaching of these three persons the whole of Bengal was flooded with love of God.

Unlike Jioda Nrsimha Varat, Sri Bhagavatabhusana was very enthusiastic to preach the Gaura mantra and establish Gaura communities.  Although Bhagavatabhusana and Nrsimha were extremely close, Nrsimha also enjoyed performing bhajan alone.

At that time Bhagavatabhusana was unparalleled in reading Bhagavata.  Whenever Saktas argued with him, Bhagavatabhusana would easily defeat them with strong words and sharp philosophical arguments. Gradually many people from various places became his
 disciples. Katdaha's Zamindar, Sri Gurdayala Sinha, was one of them.  After that he went to preach in Dacca.  Knowing the Maharaja of Dinajpur was a great devotee, Bhagavatabhusana went to meet him and the Maharaja was overwhelmed by listening to hi
s Bhagavata reading.

After having the association of many devotees, Ramatanu began living with his favorite disciple, Nityananda dasa. After some time Ramatanu came down with dysentery.  Although Nityananda dasa nursed him carefully, the disease gradually became worse.
Sensing that his end was near, Bhagavatabhusana insisted that he listen publicly to Gaura kirtana written by Narahari Sarkara, Vasu Ghosh, Madhava Ghosh and Locana dasa, containing Nagari-bhava.  While listening to the kirtana Ramatanu Bhagavatabhusa
na departed from this world in the year 1843/44 A.D.  Nityananda dasa wanted to immolate himself with his guru but with great effort the other disciples stopped him.  After his guru's death Nityananda became like a mad man.

198.RAMA TIRTHA:

He was one of the close associates of Lord Gauranga and one of the nine Yogindras.  (GGD.101, Namamrtasamudra 210)

199.RAMI/RAMAMANI:

This washer-woman was famous as the first woman poet in India.  She had some pure devotional lovingly relations with poet Candidasa.

200.RANGAPURI:

After completing His tour of South India, Mahaprabhu arrived at Udupi in Mysore.  From there he went to Pandharapura, on the bank of the River Bhima in Maharastra. There he had darsana of Vitthal Deva and sang and danced in ecstacy.  Thereafter he to
ok shelter at noon-time in the house of a local brahmana priest and heard from him that Sri Rangapuri, the disciple of Madhavendra Puri, was presently in that village at the home of a brahmana.  Hearing this news, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately
went to see Sri Rangapuri. Upon entering, the Lord saw him sitting there and immediately offered His obeisances, falling on the ground.  The symptoms of transcendental ecstacy were visible in His body--namely, tears, jubilation, trembling and perspir
ation.

Upon seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in such an ecstatic mood, Sri Rangapuri said, "Your Holiness, please get up.  You are certainly related to Sri Madhavendra Puri, without whom there is no flavor of ecstatic love."  After saying this he lifted the L
ord, embraced Him and they both cried with joy. After some moments, they regained their composure and became calm.  Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then informed Sri Rangapuri about His relationship with Isvara Puri.

They finally sat down and respectfully began to converse. In this way they discussed topics about Lord Krsna continuously for five to seven days.  Out of curiosity, Sri Rangapuri asked Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu about His birthplace, and the Lord inform
ed him that it was Navadvipa-dhama.  Sri Ranga Puri had formerly gone to Navadvipa with Sri Madhavendra Puri, and he therefore remembered the incidents that took place there.

As soon as Sri Rangapuri remembered Navadvipa, he also recalled accompanying Sri Madhavendra Puri to the house of Jagannatha Misra, where he took lunch.  He even remembered the taste of an unprecedented curry made of banana flowers. Sri Rangapuri als
o remembered the wife of Jagannatha Misra as being very devoted and chaste.  As for her affection, she was exactly like the mother of the universe.  He also recalled that Sacimata was an excellent cook, and that she was very affectionate toward the s
annyasis and fed them exactly like her own sons.  Sri Rangapuri also understood that one of her sons accepted the renounced order at a very young age. Rangapuri then said, Oh my son, I would like to tell you one thing, but to speak it out I feel grea
t pain in my heart. Mahaprabhu insisted, "Please tell me."  Rangapuri replied, "You elder brother Visvarupa, who accepted sannyasa and took the name Sankararanya, used to live in this Pandharapura." Saying this Rangapuri fainted.  When Mahaprabhu hel
ped him to regain consciousness the Lord said, "What wonderful news.  I have been wandering everywhere looking for him.  I gave my word to my mother that by any means I would bring her news of my brother."  Then Rangapuri said, crying his heart out,
"My son, I cannot utter the news to you, my heart is breaking.  A few months earlier......", Rangapuri could not finish the sentence.  Mahaprabhu asked why he was crying and begged that he tell Him more about his brother.  Then Rangapuri said, "I do
not know why I am alive, and Visvarupa has entered into the eternal abode."  Hearing news of his brother's disappearance, Mahaprabhu fainted.  Throughout the remainder of the day both of them wept continuously and sometimes Mahaprabhu fainted.

For three/four days Mahaprabhu stayed with Rangapuri and passed his time discussing various subjects, then again set out for His pilgrimage and Sri Rangapuri left for Dvaraka.

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Nilacala, Sri Rangapuri also went there and stayed in Puri until the end of his life.  Lord Caitanya respected him like his own guru and Rangapuri also loved the Lord more than his own life.

201.RANGAVASI VALLABHA:

He was Kali in his past incarnation (GGD. 196,206). Haridasa dasa thinks that due to an error on the part of the copyist the name "Bangabati Caitanyadasa" has become "Rangavasi Vallabha."

202.RANA KUMBHA:

He was the King of Mewar who wrote a commentary on the Gita-govinda.

203.RASAJANI VAISNAVA DASA:

He was the paternal grandson of Priyadasa and a disciple of Harijivan.  He wrote a complete translation of Srimad Bhagavatam in Hindi, and a translation of Gita-govinda in Vrajabhasa.  His style is lucid and closely follows the original text.

204.RASAMANJARI:

She was the daughter of Jagadisa Pandita and the wife of Gopalavallabha.  (Jagadisa Caritra 12.16)

205.RASAMAYA DASA:

No information is available on the identity of this person.  His translation of the Gita-govinda in Bengali metrical verse is lucid.

206.RASAMAYA DASA:

He was the author of Sri Krsnabhaktivalli (Visva Bharati manuscript no. 59 dated BS 1172 (1765 A.D.)

207.RASAMAYA DASA:

This is the Vaisnava name of Visnudasa, the disciple of Syamananda prabhu.  (Rasikamangala Daksina 2.67)

208.RASAMAYA DASA:

He was the domestic attendant of Rasikananda prabhu. He was the father of Gopijanavallabha, the author of Rasikamangala (Rasikamangala 4.34).  Rasamaya was the son of the daughter of Bhima, the Zamindar of Dharenda.

209.RASAMAYA DASA:

He was a Vaisnava poet.  Three poems composed by him are included in Padakalpataru.

210.RASAMAYA DASI:

She was a Vaisnava poet.  Her name is mentioned in Padakalpataru section three, subsection eight no. 141.

211.RASIKA DASA:

He was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya.  (Premavilasa 20)

212.RASIKA DASA:

He wrote a commentary titled Pallava on the Kavya of Jiva Gosvami named Sri Sri Gopalvirudavali.

213.RASIKA DASA:

This Vaisnava saint belonging to the Radhavallabhi sampradaya translated Ujjvalanilamani-Kiran into Vrajabhasa under the title Srngar-Cudamani and of Bhagavatamrta-kana under the title Rasasiddhanta-cintamani.  Both of these were Visvanatha Cakravart
i's works.  These translation bear evidence to the fact that the influence of the literary works of Rupa, Sanatana and Visvanatha existed in full glory in Vrajmandala until the seventeenth Saka century (1678 A.D.), even members of other sampradayas a
cknowledged loyalty to them.

214.RASIKA DASA: (missing)

215.RASIKAMOHANA VIDYABHUSANA:

He belonged to the family-line descending from the second daughter of Srinivasa Acarya.  He lived more than one hundred years and wrote several Vaisnava books.  One of the foremost devotees of Lord Gauranga, he was a profound erudite in both Oriental
 and Occidental Studies. The following is a list of some of his works:

(1) Raya Ramananda, (2) Svarupa Damodara, (3) Carantulasi, (4) Vidyapati, (5) Candidasa, (6) Sadhana-sanketa, (7) Sri Rupa-Sanatana, (8) Sri Vaisnava, (9) Sri Nityananda, (10) Gambhiraya Sri Gauranga, (11) Nilacale Vrajamadhuri, (12) Lilamadhuri, (13
) Gitagovinda, (14) Sanuvada Sarvasamvadini.

Rasikamohana edited a number of Vaisnava periodicals and was an eloquent interpreter of the Vaisnava sastras.

216.RASIKANANDA:

He was a Vaisnava poet.  Pada no. 2227 in Padakalpataru composed by him deals with Lord Gauranga's embracing sannyasa.

217.RASIKANANDA DASA:

He translated Lilamrtarasapura

218.RASIKANANDA DEVA GOSVAMI:

For many years Acyuta deva, the Zamindar of Rohini, was childless.  Finally, by the grace of God, in 1590 A.D. on the festive night of Diwali (Oct-Nov), a son was born to him who was named Rasikananda.

Another name for Rasikananda was Murari, thus many people used to call him Rasikamurari.  Rasikananda was very handsome and extremely knowledgeable in all subjects.  At a very early age he married Syamadasi.

Rasikananda was extremely anxious to find a bonafide spiritual master.  Once day he heard an oracle which told him not to worry, his guru, Sri Syamananda, would soon come to him and Rasikananda could then accept initiation.

Soon afterwards, Sri Syamananda and his devotees arrived there from Dharenda Bahadurpura.  Seeing Sri Syamananda with his japa mala in hand, overflowing with ecstatic emotions, Sri Rasika deva immediately recognized his guru and fell prostrate before
 him.  He brought Syamananda to his house and worshiped him with flowers.  He and his family, along with his entire kingdom, took shelter of Sri Syamananda prabhu.  On an auspicious day Sri Rasikananda and his wife received initiation from Sri Syaman
anda.  After this Rasikananda regularly traveled with Syamananda prabhu and became his most intimate disciple.  The entire charge of worshiping Sri Radha Govinda at Gopivallavapura was given to him by Sri Syamananda prabhu.  The devotees were delight
ed to see his service and devotion to Sri Radha Govinda.  Rasikananda then began preaching the message of Sri Gaura-Nityananda in Gopivallavapura and other places.  By his association my persons gave of their sinful habits.

Vaidyanatha Bhanja-the King of Mayurbhanja, King Gajapati of Pataspura, King Candrabhanu of Mayana and other respected persons became his disciples.  As directed by his spiritual master, he successfully preached the message of Sri Gaurasundara for ne
arly forty-six years and then took his eternal rest at the holy feet of Sri Gopinatha deva at the village of Remuna.

In Saka 1574 (1652 A.D.) on the first day of the bright fortnight in the month of Falguna (Feb-March), Sri Rasikananda deva came to Remuna village on foot from Sarata village unnoticed by anyone.  He discussed the glories of Lord Krsna for a little w
hile with the devotees and advised them to worship Lord Krsna.  He then entered into the temple of Sri Gopinatha, touched the feet of Sri Gopinatha and breathed his last.

Sri Rasikananda had three sons namely, Sri Radhananda, Sri Krsnagovinda and Sri Radhakrsna.  The present members of the Mahanta family of Gopivallavapura are descendants of these three sons.

Sri Rasikananda deva wrote Sri Syamananda Sataka, Srimad Bhagavatastaka and many stava and songs.  (Premavilasa 20, BRK. 15.81-85)

GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF RASIKANANDA PRABHU

         ______________________________________
         |                 |                   |
         |                 |                   |
     Radhananda        Krsnagati          Radhakrsna
         |_____
       ________|________
      |                 |
      |                 |
   Nayananda          Rasananda
      |
   ___|______________________________________________________
   |                                 |                      |
   |                                 |                      |
Vrajajanananda                 Vrndavanananda        Utsavananda
   |____                                   |____
 _______|____________________               ____|_______________
|             |             |              |                   |
|             |             |              |                   |
 Vicitrananda  Bhajanananda  Govindananda  Vaisnavananda   Suvalananda
                                         |
                               __________|____________
                              |                      |
                              |                      |
                         Gokulananda             Netrananda
                              |
                              |
                       Trivikramananda
                              |
            __________________|___________________
           |                                      |
           |                                      |
      Madhusudananda                      Ramakrsnananda
                                                  |
  ________________________________________________|_________
 |                  |                   |                   |
 |                  |                   |                   |
Anandananda     Saccidananda     Visvambharananda    Sandrananda                      |
                    |
              Sarvesvarananda                                                        |
     _______________|___________________
     |                                  |
     |                                  |
 Nandanandanananda               Sacinandanananda
     |                                  |
     |                                  |
Govindagopalananda               Gopalagovindananda



219.RASIKARAYA JIU:

Sri Candra Sarma was a pious brahmana who lived at Jaipur in Rajasthan.  He worshiped the Deity of Lord Krsna which is known as Sri Rasika.  Because he was poor, he could barely make arrangements to make offerings to the Deity.  One night, in a dream
, Sri Jagannatha Deva advised Sri Candra Sarma to take his Deity to Ganga Mata, who was residing near Sveta-Ganga in Puri, and arrange for her to worship Him.  The brahmana followed the advice and without delay reached Ganga Mata.  Upon seeing the De
ity of Lord Krsna, she became very happy.  The brahmana then told her the reason for his visit. But Ganga Mata explained that she could not worship the Deity as she spent most of her day begging alms from various places, thus she advised him to take
the Deity home with him.  The brahmana, not finding any other alternative, placed the Deity of Sri Rasika Raya in Ganga Mata's tulasi garden and left quietly.

That night Sri Rasika Raya appeared to Sri Ganga mata in a dream and told her that the brahmana had left Him in the garden and since then He had eaten nothing.  She immediately woke up and with tearful eyes, went to the garden where she found the Dei
ty.  She took the Deity inside and gave Him a bath and fed Him.  Upon seeing that the hungry Sri Rasika Raya was gulping down the food, Ganga mata could not check her joyful tears.  She then dressed Him in new clothes and lay Him down to rest.

The following morning the devotees were astonished to see the beautiful Sri Rasika Raya in the house of Ganga mata. Hearing the wonderful story they all shouted, "Hari, Hari." Everyday Ganga mata feed Sri Rasika Raya many varieties of food. For somet
ime she maintained the Deity by begging, but when she became too old she was unable to offer proper service to the Deity.  Sri Rasika Raya, however, tactfully arranged to accept service from the rich businessmen.  Not being able to properly serve the
 Lord was painful for Ganga mata and she begged that He allow her to die.  But in a dream Rasika Raya told her to go on serving Him without being depressed as He was very happy with the service rendered by her.  Thus she continued serving Him for som
etime, when again she requested that she be allowed to leave this world while chanting His holy name.  Sri Rasika Raya said that she would certain reach the spiritual abode, but first she should hand over the charge of His worship to a genuine devote
e.  She then requested Vanamali dasa, a very calm and quiet devotee, to take care of Sri Rasika Raya.  In 1721 A.D., on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Asvin (Sept-Oct) Sri Ganga Mata left this world at the age of 120 years.  She was born
 in the year 1601 A.D.

220.RASIKASEKHARA:

He was the disciple of Thakura Narahari.  He wrote the Sanskrit book Srimannaraharira Sakhanirnaya.
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