Who can describe the activities of such an exalted Vaiṣṇava as Śrī Rāghava Paṇḍita? He belonged to a Kulina brāhmaṇa family of South India, and he always showed extreme favor to the poor. He has written various books like Bhakti-ratna-prakāśa. Rāghava Gosvāmī was an authority in all śāstras. He always lived at Govardhana, the place which was all and all for him.
It is stated in Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dipika: “That person who was Sakhī Campakalatā, the life of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in Vraja, has appeared as Śrī Rāghava Gosvāmī, the resident of Govardhana, in gaura-līlā. He has written a book called Bhakti-ratna-prakāśa.”
From time to time Rāghava Paṇḍita would visit the various places in Vṛndāvana, and at other times he stayed with Śrī Dāsa Gosvāmī [Raghunātha dāsa]. Sometimes both of them would come to Vṛndāvana to meet the other devotees. Rāghava always chanted the glories of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa and Caitanya Mahāprabhu and floated in his own tears. He used to roll in the dust of Vṛndāvana, and he never felt the urge of hunger. Who can understand the depths of his detachment from worldly pleasures? Śrī Rāghava knew that Śrīnivāsa and Narottama were of the same mentality—full of love and devotion—and therefore he loved them intensely.
At dawn, in a solitary place, Śrī Rāghava began to describe the innumerable pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa in Mathurā-maṇḍala. King Vajranābha of Mathurā-maṇḍala established many villages which he named after Kṛṣṇa’s various pastimes. By installing many Deities of Kṛṣṇa and revealing many kuṇḍas, King Vajranābha satisfied his own long-cherished desires. [Vajranābha was the great grandson of Kṛṣṇa. 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, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, Vrajendra-kumāra Himself, came to Mathurā and indicated the locations of those lost holy places. He described everything about those places to Sanātana and Rūpa. Although Rūpa and Sanātana 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 Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa and the essence of Their divine love. Rūpa and Sanātana were very dear to Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Because of their sincere endeavor to reveal the holy places, people can now know the glories of Mathurā.
Bhakti-ratnäkara –
Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thäkura
Published by Pundarika Vidyänidhi däsa
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