Who can describe the activities of such an exalted Vaiñëava as Çré Räghava Paëòita? He belonged to a Kulina brähmaëa family of South India, and he always showed extreme favor to the poor. He has written various books like Bhakti-ratna-prakäça. Räghava Gosvämé was an authority in all çästras. He always lived at Govardhana, the place which was all and all for him.
It is stated in Gaura-gaëoddeça-dipika: “That person who was Sakhé Campakalatä, the life of Çrématé Rädhäräëé in Vraja, has appeared as Çré Räghava Gosvämé, the resident of Govardhana, in gaura-lélä. He has written a book called Bhakti-ratna-prakäça.”
From time to time Räghava Paëòita would visit the various places in Våndävana, and at other times he stayed with Çré Däsa Gosvämé [Raghunätha däsa]. Sometimes both of them would come to Våndävana to meet the other devotees. Räghava always chanted the glories of Rädhä-Kåñëa and Caitanya Mahäprabhu and floated in his own tears. He used to roll in the dust of Våndävana, and he never felt the urge of hunger. Who can understand the depths of his detachment from worldly pleasures? Çré Räghava knew that Çréniväsa and Narottama were of the same mentality—full of love and devotion—and therefore he loved them intensely.
At dawn, in a solitary place, Çré Räghava began to describe the innumerable pastimes of Çré Kåñëa in Mathurä-maëòala. King Vajranäbha of Mathurä-maëòala established many villages which he named after Kåñëa’s various pastimes. By installing many Deities of Kåñëa and revealing many kuëòas, King Vajranäbha satisfied his own long-cherished desires. [Vajranäbha was the great grandson of Kåñëa. He was the son of Aniruddha, the son of Pradyumna.] After some time, however, the locations of those holy places were almost lost. No one cared to discuss or remember those holy places or the Lord’s pastimes there.
Much later, Çré Kåñëa Caitanya, Vrajendra-kumära Himself, came to Mathurä and indicated the locations of those lost holy places. He described everything about those places to Sanätana and Rüpa. Although Rüpa and Sanätana were familiar with the places and their importance, nevertheless they sought evidence from the scriptures.
After collecting scriptural references, they traveled to each of the holy places in Vraja. With utmost care they reestablished many of the lost holy places. They also revealed the glories of Çré Çré Rädhä-Kåñëa and the essence of Their divine love. Rüpa and Sanätana were very dear to Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Because of their sincere endeavor to reveal the holy places, people can now know the glories of Mathurä.
Bhakti-ratnäkara –
Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thäkura
Published by Pundarika Vidyänidhi däsa
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