

153.VISVARUPA:

He was the elder brother of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.  In Krsna lila he was Baladeva. (VV. of Jiva 25-26, Devakin. 7, Vrnd., Murari 1.2.8, CC Kavya 2.20, CBh. 1.1.9, Jayananda P.11, CC. 1.15.9)

154.VISVARUPA DASA BABAJI:

Visvarupa dasa Babaji was a great scholar, full of renunciation and reserved in his speech.  He practiced bhajan living as the chief of the Thoura of Siddha Totarama dasa Babaji Mahasaya of Sri Vrndavana.  He was introduced to Siddha Totarama by Sri
Radhika Rajarsi Bahadura, the Babaji's servant. At the time when Vanamali Babu was living in Sri Kunda, the Vaisnava Committee from that area took all the water out of Syamakunda to clean it.  However, due to a shortage of funds they were not able to
 complete the work. During the time of Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami the kunda had been restored but it had not been done since then.
Hearing about the unsuccessful attempt to clean the kunda Babaji Mahasaya went there to investigate the situation.  Upon seeing the condition of the kunda Babaji began to cry.  He then took the firm decision that the kunda must be cleaned by raising
the necessary funds.
Five thousand rupees was given by Rajarsi Bahadura and Babaji took the money and appointed Rajarsi as the cashier and supervisor of the job.  Whatever he was able to collect by begging Babaji deposited with Rajarsi, and the secretary of Rajarsi, Kami
ni babu, started on the job.
Everyone was surprised to see Babaji Mahasaya's determination and perseverance to carry out this mission.  He never spent even a single paisa from the fund for his personal use, even the money which was required for travelling to Sri Kunda from Vrnda
vana he collected from other source.  Neither did he spend any money from the fund for postage.  He used to say, "If anyone requests me to perform some dishonest works but he gives some money for the restoration of Sri Kunda, I will do that dishonest
 job for him.  Sri Syamasundara is the life of the Vaisnavas, so He did not allow the Babaji to perform any such work.
But for two or three years Babaji Mahasaya had to undergo numerous hardships, personal loss.  He passed through many difficult days in order to complete his mission.  In due course of time he was able complete the work and Sri Syama Kunda was restore
d to its original beauty.

155.VISVASA:

He was an employee in the Moslim government.  When Lord Caitanya arrived at the border of the state of Orissa on his way to Vrndavana, a government officer came there to meet Him. He informed the Lord that the territory ahead was ruled by a Moslem go
vernor who was a drunkard.  Out of fear for this king, no one could walk the road freely.  Thus he advised the Lord to stay at the Orissa border for some days so that a peaceful agreement could be negotiated with the Mohammedan governor.  In that way
, the Lord would be able to cross the river peacefully in a boat.  At that time, a follower of the Mohammedan governor arrived at the Orissa encampment dressed in disguise.  After observing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he returned to the Mohammedan gover
nor and told him about the wonderful characteristics of the Lord.  Upon hearing this, the mind of the Mohammedan governor was changed and he desired to meet the Lord.  He then sent his own secretary, Visvasa, to the representative of the Orissa gover
nment.  The Mohammedan secretary came to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.  Upon seeing the Lord, Visvasa immediately began to chant the holy name of the Lord,  "Krsna, Krsna", and was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.  After calming down, Visvasa fell at t
he feet of the Lord and conveyed the message of the Moslim governor.   (CC. 2.16-177)

156.VISVASA DEVI:

She was the Queen of Mithila who wrote `Gangavakyavali', a work on Smrti.  She wrote this work with the help of the famous poet Vidyapati.  This information is recorded in the concluding sloka of Gangavakyavali.  She was the wife of King Padmasimha.

157.VISVESVARA ACARYA/VISVESVARANANDA ACARYA:

Lord Nityananda's daughter Ganga was married to Madhavacarya, the son of Visvesvara.  Bhagiratha Acarya was a close friend of Visvesvara, as they both lived in the same village.  When Visvesvara lost his wife, he left his son Madhava in the custody o
f Jayadurga, the wife of Bhagiratha. He then took sannyasa and settled at Kasi (Premavilasa 21). In his past incarnation Visvesvara was Divakara (GGD. 113, VV. of Jiva 135, Devakin. 51, Vrnd. 46)

158.VITTHALANATHA/VITTHALESVARA:

He was the second son of Vallabhacarya.  Despite being the head of the Vallabha sampradaya he practiced bhajan of Lord Gauranga.  He served the Gopalaji Deity in the village of Gathuli in Vrndavana.  CC. 2.4 describes the story relating to the revela
tion of this Gopala Deity.

Madhavendra Puri installed the Gopala Deity on top of Govardhana Hill.  Later, Lord Caitanya wanted to see the Gopala Deity, but would not climb Govardhana Hill.  Thus Gopala arranged to come down from the hill and give darsana to Mahaprabhu.  Origin
ally Madhavendra Puri himself worshiped the Deity, but later turned over the charge of the Deity service to two Gaudiya Vaisnavas.  (see also "Madhavendra Puri)

According to BRK. 5.815 after the death of the said two Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Vitthalesvara was nominated as the priest in charge after consulting Dasa Gosvami and others.

The name of Vitthalesvara is found in the section Sri Gopala-stavaraja in Stavavali of Dasa Gosvami (13,14) and `Sri Gopala Devastaka' (7) of Cakravarti Thakura.
When Raghunatha dasa Gosvami had an attack of indigestion, Vitthalesvara called two physicians to treat him.(BRK. 5.577)
When Srinivasa Acarya in course of his pilgrimage to Vrndavana arrived at Gathuli, Vitthalanatha welcomed him warmly (BRK. 5.804).  To escape the wrath of the Moslem rulers the Gopala Deity was kept hidden in the house of Vitthalanatha for one month
(CC. 2.18.47).  There a large number of devotees went to have darsana of Gopala.  This Gopalaji is now at Nathadvara.  The opulent worship offered at Nathadvara cannot be found anywhere else in India.

Vitthalanatha wrote a commentary on `Premamrta-rasayana' written by Lord Caitanya and a book titled Vidvanmandana.  In addition he wrote several other works as follows to vindicate his own sampradaya:  Sri Brahmasutranubhasyapurti, Vivrtiprakasa, Niv
andhaprakasapurti, Srngararasa mandana, etc. He died in 1508 Saka (1585 A.D.)

159.VONCA RAMABHADRA:

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

160.VRAJA RAYA:

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

161.VRAJA LAKSMINATHA:

See under "Laksminatha Pandita"

162.VRAJAKISORE DASA BABAJI:

He was renowned for his humbleness, renunciation and bhajan, and was one of the main disciples of Sri Nityananda Babaji.  He never lived in a hut, but stayed in a place in Bhatrol which was supposed to be haunted.  Once a ghost was frightened by his
spiritual power, thus Babaji thought that it was not proper for a Vaisnava to trouble even a ghost, so he left that place and went to stay under a bridge between the village of Sironduk and Sri Vrndavana, where he lived for the rest of his life.  Thi
nking that his touch might harm others he never entered the temple to have darsana of Sri Govinda or any other temple.  Sri Premananda Prabhu, scion of Sri Nityananda of Srngaravata, learned bhajan from him. Vrajakisore dasa Babaji memorized the enti
re Govindalilamrta. Throughout his life his only possessions were a bowl and a quilt.  Fearing that others might worship him, he used to keep himself hidden.

163.VRAJAMOHANA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu (Rasikamangala Pascima 14.112,128,149,150,152)
164.VRAJAMOHANA:

He was a Vaisnava poet (Bangiya Sahitya Sevaka)

165.VRAJAMOHANA CATTARAJA:
He was the disciple of Gatigovinda, the son of Srinivasa Acarya (Karnananda 2)

166.VRAJANANDA:

He was a Vaisnava poet.  See poem no. 127 in Padakalpataru.

167.VRAJANANDA:

He was the eldest son of Rasikananda prabhu. (Rasikamangala Daksina 11.35)

168.VRAJANANDA DASA:

He was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya (Karnananda 1)

169.VRAJANANDA THAKURA:

He was a Vaisnava poet and the grandson of Nayanananda Thakura of Mangaladihi.

170.VRHACCHISU:

B.B. Majumdar in CCU. P. 693 refers to him as `Patraka.'

171.VRNDAVANA:

He was the son of Vamsi and a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu (Rasikamangala Pascima 14.138)

172.VRNDAVANA ACARYA:

He was also known as Vrndavanavallabha and Vrndavanacandra.  He was the eldest son of and a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya.  His wife was Satyabhama devi (Karnananda 1).  Jiva Gosvami christened him and often inquired about him (Narottamavilasa 11, BRK
. 14.19-20)

173.VRNDAVANA CAKRAVARTI:

He was the disciple of Satyabhama devi, the daughter-in-law of Srinivasa Acarya.

174.VRNDAVANA CAKRAVARTI:

He was the disciple of Krsnadeva Sarvabhauma.  He wrote a lucid commentary titled `Sadanandavidhayini' on the book Sri Govinda lilamrta.  This tika was completed in 1701 Saka.  In the beginning of this tika the author invokes the grace of Yugalakisor
a, Krsna, Lord Nityananda, Rupa and Sanatana, Kaviraja Gosvami and other devotees of Lord Gauranga.  The tika is simple and brief yet thoroughly scholastic.  His analysis of rhetoric in dealing with chapters 11, 16 and 17 bears out his sound command
of philosophy.  His tika on chapters 22 and 23 relating to tune, rhythm, etc. show that he was an accomplished theoretician in music also.

175.VRNDAVANA CANDRA:

He was a disciple of Gopala Bhatta and the youngest son of Harivamsa Gosvami.  He served the Deity Radhavallabha at Vrndavana (Premavilasa 18)

176.VRNDAVANA CATTARAJA:

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

177.VRNDAVANA DASA:

A resident of Vrndavana and a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya (Karnananda 1).

178.VRNDAVANA DASA:

He was a Gaudiya Vaisnava who lived in Vraja.  He translated in Vrajbhasa Vilapa-kusumanjali, Premabhakticandrika and Vaisnavabhidhana in some special meters.  These works were done in 1813 Samvat.

179.VRNDAVANA DASA:

He was the disciple of Gatigovinda, the son of Srinivasa Acarya.  His father was Prasada Visvas (Karnananda 2)

180.VRNDAVANA DASA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu (Rasikamangala Pascima 14.123.146)

181.VRNDAVANA DASA BABAJI:

He lived in Varsana, but everyday he would rise early and after performing his mornking duties, he would walk to Vrndavana taking his japa mala with him.  In Vrndavana he visited the seven famous temples and took caranamrta, Tulasi and the dust of th
e temples.  He then returned to Varsana in the evening and went out on madhukari.  He never took prasada anywhere.  Once in Sri Vrndavana in the temple of Sri Govinda many Vaisnavas were invited for prasada.  All of them requested Vrndavana dasa to t
ake prasada with them. Thinking that it would be improper not to honor their request, he took the prasada and left for Varsana.
At dawn he got up as usual, finished his morning duties and went out with japa mala in his hand.  Strangely, the thumb of his right hand refused to move as if it were paralyzed, yet there was no pain.  Confused he rushed to Sri Manohara dasa Babaji o
f Sri Govinda kunda, threw himself at his feet and began to cry and said, "Baba, I am undone.  I do not know why my right thumb refuses to move while chanting the holy name." Maharaja asked him where he had taken prasada on the previous day, and requ
ested Vrndavana dasa to enquire about the source of the money given for the prasada.  Vrndavana dasa came to find out that the money had been given by a prostitute.  Thus Maharaja instructed Vrndavana dasa to take his bath in Sri Kunda and to circuma
mbulate Giriraja in wet clothes for three days, eating only what he was able to get along the way.  Sri Vrndavana dasa did so and on the fourth day his thumb was restored to its former healthy state.

182.VRNDAVANA DASA THAKURA:

(see separate file)

183.VRNDAVANA KAVIRAJA:

He was the brother of Vasudeva Kaviraja and a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya (Karnananda 1)

184.VRNDAVANA KISORA:

He was a disciple of Rasikananda prabhu (Rasikamangala Pascima 14.121)

185.VRNDAVANA VALLABHA:

He was the eldest son of Srinivasa Acarya (see "V. Acarya")
186.VRNDAVANAVASI VAISNAVA:

His real name is not known.  One day Rupa Gosvami was deeply absorbed in meditation on the pastimes of the Lord in Vrndavana.  At that time Rupa Gosvami had a vision of the sakhis as they were dressing up the hair of Radhika.  Sri Radhika was not pro
perly dressed at that time.  After the sakhis finished dressing her hair they brought a mirror for Sri Radha to examine herself.  Meanwhile Lord Krsna, who was hidden behind the back of Radhika, enjoyed gazing upon the beautiful lotus face of Radha.
 When Radha looked in the mirror to see her own face she was shocked to see the face of Lord Krsna reflected on the mirror.  Thus she rushed to cover herself properly which aroused great laughter amongst the sakhis.  Rupa Gosvami also joined in their
 laughter.

At that moment the said Vrndavana vasi arrived on the scene eager to meet Rupa Gosvami.  Finding Rupa Gosvami laughing aloud this Vaisnava erroneously thought that Rupa was laughing at him and hence with a sad heart he went to Sanatana Gosvami and ex
pressed his sorrow (BRK. 5.3814-3815)

The omniscient Sanatana Gosvami could understand what had happened and explained it to the Vaisnava.  The latter felt deeply aggrieved at having misunderstood Rupa Gosvami in this way.

Meanwhile, as soon as the Vrndavana vasi left the company of Rupa, Rupa Gosvami could no longer contemplate the lila. Because his train of thought broke Rupa thought that perhaps some Vaisnava may have come to meet him and had gone away in disappoint
ment.  Later Rupa went to Sanatana Gosvami and heard what had happened.  The said Vaisnava fell at the feet of Rupa and burst into tears, begging forgiveness from Rupa Gosvami (BRK. 5.3805-3835)

187.VRNDAVANA THAKURANI:

She belonged to the spiritual lineage of Srinivasa Acarya (Karnananda 2)

188. VRNDAVATI

She was the daughter of Rasikananda (Rasikamangala Purva 1.121)

189.VRNDAVATI DASI:

She was a Vaisnava woman from Orissa.  In 1621 Saka she wrote a book titled Purnatamocandrodaya.

190.VUDDHIMANTA KHAN:

He was a Zamindar of Navadvipa and a devotee of Lord Caitanya.  He belonged to the spiritual lineage of Lord Caitanya.  Vuddhimanta Khan bore all the expenses incurred during the marriage of Visnupriya and Lord Caitanya (CC. 1.10.74, CBh. 1.10.111).
 He was a brahmacari.  (see also "Sadasiva Pandita")

191.VYASATIRTHA:

(1460 A.D.-1539) He was the fourteenth descendant from Sri Madhava and was said to have been the guru of Krsnadevacarya, the King of Vijayanagara.  He was a theologian and a contemporary of Lord Caitanya.  He wrote the following books:  Tarkatandava,
 Tatparyacandrika, Nyayamrta, Bhedojjivana, Khandanatraya-mandara-manjari, Tattvaviveka-mandara-manjari etc.  In his Tattvasandarbha Jiva Gosvami praised this Vyasacarya as "Vedavedarthavitsrestha" (the supreme authority on the Vedas).  Jiva Gosvami
also referred to Vyasacarya's work `Nyayamrta' in his Sarvasamvadini and Sanksepa Vaisnavatosani.

192.VYASACARYA:

He was first disciple of Srinivasa Acarya and belonged to Sripata Vanavisnupura in the district of Bankura.  Vyasacarya was the Pandita in the royal court of Vira Hamvira, the King of Visnupura.  His wife was named Indumukhi and his son was Syamadasa
 Cakravarti.  Srinivasa Acarya personally appointed Vyasacarya as the priest (BRK. 10.134)

193.VYENKATABHATTA:

He was a resident of Srirangam and belonged to the Sri sampradaya (CC. 2.9.82,86).  At first he was a worshipper of Laksmi Narayana, but later, after being influenced by Lord Caitanya, he began to worship Radha Krsna (CC. 2.9.158-159)
 
