Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya

There are two Arjuna in Kṛṣṇa-līlā: one is a priya-narma-sakhā in Vraja, the other is one of the Pāṇḍavas. These two combined to become Rāmānanda Rāya, the dear companion of Mahāprabhu. He was very knowledgeable in the teachings of loving devotion to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa,, which he described to Mahāprabhu daily. Some people say that Rāmānanda Rāya was Lalitā sakhī, while others do not. Mahāprabhu Himself told Bhavānanda Rāya that he was Pāṇḍu, the husband of Kuntī and father of the Pāṇḍavas. The Pāṇḍavas Arjuna also united with the gopī Arjunīyā.

Harikatha on Sri Ramanand Raya, Holland 2002

Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur writes, “The love that awakened in Ramananda and Mahaprabhu when they met was the same as the love that Vishakha had for Radha and Krishna in Vraja, and that which Radha and Krishna had for Vishakha.” Thus it is clear that Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur saw Ramananda Raya as Vishakha. Ramananda Raya was one of the Lord’s three and a half most intimate associates.

Raya Ramanand Samvad

Srila Guru Maharaj narrates the conversion between Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His dear most associate Sri Ramanand Raya. Here, the Supreme Lord empowered His devotee to speak and He Himself became the listener. Mahaprabhu inquires about the highest form of worship and worship-able object. In reply Ramanand Raya describes the gradual development of theism.

Glories of Ramanand Raya

The Lord said to Ramanand Raya, “You are a great devotee, indeed you are the best amongst them. All those who behold you are immediately affected so that their hearts melt. What to speak of others—I am a mayavadi sannyasi, yet I feel the onset of Krishna prema when I touch you.”