Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami

Srila Raghunatha Bhatta GosvamiWhen Mahaprabhu was on His way to Vrndavan, He stopped in Varanasi and stayed at the home of Candrasekhara and took prasadam at the home of Tapana Misra, for two months, bestowing profuse mercy and blessings upon the young Raghunatha, who would massage the feet of the Lord, smearing them with sandalwood paste after lunch prasadam, when he took rest. When he grew to a youth, Raghunatha Bhatta traveled to Jagannatha Puri for the association of

When Mahaprabhu was on His way to Vrndavan, He stopped in Varanasi and stayed at the home of Candrasekhara and took prasadam at the home of Tapana Misra, for two months, bestowing profuse mercy and blessings upon the young Raghunatha, who would massage the feet of the Lord, smearing them with sandalwood paste after lunch prasadam, when he took rest. When he grew to a youth, Raghunatha Bhatta traveled to Jagannatha Puri for the association of Mahaprabhu, where he stayed and served the Lord for ten months. Raghunatha was an expert cook and regularly prepared many delicious meals for the Lord. Sriman Mahaprabhu happily accepted the offerings of Raghunatha, which were cooked with so much sweetness and love.

Raghunatha Bhatta had sang the verses of the Bhagavatam in many beautiful, heart-rending melodies, and by his descriptions, he decorated the devotees and nourished them with 'bhagavata rasa', the transcendental nectar of divine love. Mahaprabhu encouraged Raghunatha to recite the Bhagavatam and would even listen to him speak the Bhagavatam before the assembly of devotees. After ten months with Mahaprabhu, the Lord instructed Raghunatha Bhatta to return home to serve his Vaisnava devotee parents in Varanasi, and later he could come back to him in Puri. Raghunatha accepted the order of the Lord, despite the intense pain of ensuing separation. He came back to Mahaprabhu a few years later, and stayed again for ten months. This time Mahaprabhu told Raghunatha to go to Vrndavana, and stay with the other Gosvamis, led by Sri Rupa and Sanatana, and to preach the glories of the Bhagavatam and serve all the Vaisnavas. In Vrndavana, Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami nourished everyone with pure love for Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. He established many temples and gave shelter to countless living entities. He took responsibility for the spiritual development of all souls. He concluded his pastimes on this Earth in the transcendental abode of Sri Vrndavana and re-entered the eternal pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. In krsna-lila, Raghunatha Bhatta is 'Raga Manjari', therefore, we can see in Mahaprabhu's pastimes how he would serve so nicely with anuraga. Another beautiful book in the Gosvami series. Full of many heart-rendering pastimes of Raghunatha Bhatta, a must-read for all Vaisnavas' and followers of the Gosvamis' of Vrndavan.