Rupa Goswami

Rupa Goswami

Shrila Rupa Goswami took his birth in 1493 A.D. (1415, Sakabda), and disappeared at the age of 73 in 1564 A.D. (1486, Sakabda). He spent 22 years in householder life, followed by 51 years in Vrndavana. Rupa Goswami is known as bhakti-rasacarya, an expert in the tastes of pure devotional service. He and his older brother, Shrila Sanatana Goswami, left high posts in the government of Nawab Hussein Shah to join Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Empowered by Lord Caitanya, Shrila Rupa Goswami wrote many books about the science of Krsna Consciousness. A summary study of his Bhakti-rasasmrta-sindhu can be found in "The Nectar of Devotion," and his Upadesamrta is found in "The Nectar of Instruction".[1]

Introduction

Rupa Goswami was the younger brother of Shrila Sanatana Goswami. Forced by various circumstances, Shrila 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[2]. Although he enjoyed great wealth and prestige, he never forgot Lord Shri Krishna. Even before meeting Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa Goswami had already written several books on Vedic philosophy and was renowned for his learning and devotion.[3]

Met Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

In 1514, Rupa and Sanatana met Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for the first time and were initiated by Him. Rupa left government service and spent ten days hearing from Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu the philosophy of Krishna consciousness. Shri Chaitanya 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 Krishna consciousness
  4. to teach the rules of devotional life