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The Biography of Rupa Goswami
Srila
Rupa Goswami appeared in
Forced
by various circumstances, Srila Rupa
Goswami and Sanatana Goswami had to work for the Muslim government of Bengal
under Nawab Hussein Shah. Rupa
Goswami was then known by the Muslim name Dabir Khas ('private secretary').
Although he enjoyed great wealth and prestige, he never forgot Lord Sri
Krishna. Even before meeting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa Goswami had already written several books on Vedic
philosophy and was renowned for his learning and devotion.
In
1514, Rupa and Sanatana met
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for
the first time and were initiated by Him. Rupa left
government service and spent ten days hearing from Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu the philosophy of Krsna
consciousness. Sri Caitanya then ordered Rupa Goswami to go Vrindavana with a fourfold mission: (1) to uncover the lost
sites of Lord Krishna's pastimes, (2) to install Deities of the Lord and
arrange for Their worship, (3) to write books on Krsna
consciousness, and (4) to teach the rules of devotional life.
At first Rupa Goswami felt
great difficulty carrying out the desire of Lord Caitanya.
But one day, while Rupa was sitting on the bank of
the Yamuna River contemplating his mission, a
beautiful boy came to him and asked the cause of his despondency. Rupa Goswami explained. The boy
then led him to a small hill.
'Inside
this hill',said the boy, 'is
the beautiful Deity Govindadeva'. He said that the
Deity had been buried to protect Him during a Muslim invasion.
The
next day Rupa Goswami led a
group of villagers to the site and had them excavate the hill. The Deity Govinda was unearthed. Rupa Goswami then had a magnificent temple constructed under the
patronage of Emperor Akbar and Maharaja Man Singh of
Amber, Rajasthan. Sri Govinda Deva
is presently being worshipped at Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Rupa Goswami fulfilled all four parts of the mission given to
him by Lord Caitanya, including writing many books on
Krsna consciousness. He passed away in 1564. Devotees
pay respects to him by visiting his samadhi, or
memorial tomb, in the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara
temple in Vrindavana.
UPDATED: July 26, 2010