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Sixty-four Samadhis (Chaousata Mahanta Samadhi Pitha)

Near the Radha Govinda Temple is a garden that contains the nama (name) and puspa (flower) samadhis of 64 important Gaudiya Vaishnava Acaryas, associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. These include Madhavendra Puri, Iswara Puri, the six Gosvamis, Ramananda Raya, Swarupa Damodara, Sivananda Sen, the eight Kavirajas, Paramananda Puri, etc. These devotees are considered by some Vaishnava authorities to be the 64 most confidential associates of Lord Caitanya.

The first samadhis to be established here were those of Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Kasisvara Pandit Gosvami and Subuddhi Raya.
About 150 years ago the Govindaji temple managers started to add more samadhis. These samadhis are pushpa, smriti, or nama samadhis. Most of the samadhis are nama samadhis. Earth from the birthplaces of Sri Vidyapati Dasa and Sri Candidasa were used to make their samadhis.
There is also a well here, called Venu Kupa. It is said that Krishna played His flute here and this well was manifested from the ground. This well is said to come from Patala-loka. The well is now covered by grass, so you may have to ask someone where it is located. On special days, such as Krishna’s Janmastami, Govindaji is bathed with the water from Venu Kupa. Venu Kupa is in the northeast corner (far right hand corner) of this enclosure, just beyond the boundary wall.

How To Get Here If you begin by facing the Rangaji Temple, from there you go to your right (south) passing the red sandstone Govindaji Temple, on your right. Turn left after 200m (625 ft), onto the first street you come to and walk 140m (450 ft). On your left will be two wooden doors and a surroun.ding wall. From the outside it is obvious that there are many samadhis in this courtyard.

Kasisvara Pandit Gosvami’s and Subuddhi Raya’s Samadhis
These samadhis are within the 64 Samadhis garden. Bhakta-mala says that the samadhis of Kasisvara Pandit Gosvami and Subuddhi Raya contain their full bodies. Kasisvara Pandit was the godbrother of Lord Caitanya. Both of them were initiated (took diksha) from Isvara Puri. He personally served Lord Caitanya in Jagannatha Puri. Lord Caitanya sent him to Vrindavana.
Subuddhi Raya was advised to go to Vrindavana by Lord Caitanya. King Hussain Shah, of Bengal, put some water from his pot on Subuddhi Raya and therefore according to orthodox Hindus, he was considered converted to being a Muslim. He was thus advised to kill himself. Lord Caitanya instead advised him to go to Vrindavana. He used to associate with Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, Kasisvara Pandita and other Vaishnavas.

Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami’s Samadhi
The samadhi of Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami, in the 64-samadhi garden, is said to contain some of his ashes. Some of his ashes are also in a samadhi at Radha Kunda. He is said to have done bhajana at this place.

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