bbtirtha - Chapter

Śrī Rasikānanda Deva Gosvāmī

Chapter, Sreela Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

Srila Rasikānanda Deva Gosvāmī was born in 1512 of the Śaka era (1591 AD) in the village of Rohini or Rayni in the Midnapore district. This village is situated at the confluence of the Subarnarekha and Dolanga Rivers. His father’s name was Rājā Acyutānanda and his mother, Bhavānī Devī. The Subarnarekha River crosses back and forth across the present-day Bengal-Odisha border. Midnapore district used to be a part of the Odishan kingdom. Rājā Acyutānanda was an Odishan of the Karaṇa caste, the equivalent of the Kāyasthas in Bengal. A Vaiṣṇava is beyond the material qualities and should not be judged in terms of his caste origins. Rājā Acyutānanda and Rasikānanda were born in the Karaṇa caste in order to bless it.

We can assume that Rasikānanda Deva Gosvāmī was a female servitor belonging to the conjugal loving mood in Kṛṣṇa-līlā. Though his spiritual master Śyāmānanda Prabhu had himself been initiated by Hṛdaya Caitanya Gosvāmī, who worshipped the Lord in the mood of friendship, he later took shelter of the conjugal mood due to the association of Jīva Gosvāmī. Śyāmānanda Prabhu thus initiated Rasikānanda into the worship of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Rasikānanda was also known by the name Rasika Murāri. In Prema-vilāsa (20) it is written that Śyāmānanda Prabhu had two principle disciples, one named Rasikānanda, the other Murāri, both of whom lived in Rayni, and whose glories are sung by everyone in Odisha. But Narahari Cakravartī indicates clearly in Bhakti-ratnākara that both names refer to the same individual:

In the village of Rayni lives the famous son of Acyutānanda. He had two names: Rasikānanda and Murāri. Thus he was also known as Rasika-Murāri. He became learned in the scriptures in his childhood. (Bhakti-ratnākara 15.27-8)

We learn from the Bhakti-ratnākara that when the son of King Daśaratha, Lord Rāmacandra, was exiled from Ayodhya, he spent some time with Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā in the village of Barajita, not far from Rayni. He there established the Śiva liṅga named Rāmesvara.

Acyutānanda was a benevolent landowner who strictly followed religious principles and took good care of his subjects. His wife also had a good reputation as a faithful and loyal wife. Rasika Murāri served his parents very expertly, bringing them much satisfaction. Bhakti-ratnākara also notes that he had a devoted wife name Icchāmayī Devī or Icchādevi, from village of Ghantashila. This village also has a certain history as a place where the Pāṇḍavas stayed during their exile. It was in this village that Rasika Murāri first met his guru and received his grace, an event that has been elaborately described in the Bhakti-ratnākara.
Rasika Murāri Meets Śyāmānanda Prabhu

One day, while in Ghantashila, Rasika Murāri was anxious to find a spiritual master and went to a solitary place to meditate. He had just entered into a very deep trance when he heard a voice from an unseen source say, “Murāri! You need be anxious no longer. Your guru is Śyāmānanda and you will meet him very shortly. Take shelter of him and your life will be successful.”

Upon hearing this divine message, Murāri began chanting the name of Śyāmānanda with joyful enthusiasm. He spent the entire night crying out of eager expectation to meet his guru, until finally at the end of the night, he had a vision in his dream of Śyāmānanda Prabhu, who said to him, “Don’t worry any longer, for you will meet me this very day.”

At dawn, Rasika Murāri was on the lookout for his guru when he saw the tall figure of Śyāmānanda Prabhu approaching him, as effulgent as the sun. Surrounded by disciples like Kiśora Dāsa, he was dancing in a state of absorption in divine love while chanting ‘Hā Kṛṣṇa Caitanya! Ha Nityānanda!’ Rasika Murāri had been waiting anxiously for so long to encounter his guru that he immediately fell down at his feet. Śyāmānada Prabhu affectionately lifted him up, embraced him and drenched him with tears. Then, after giving him the Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa mantra, he offered him up to Caitanya and Nityānanda Prabhus. This whole event reveals how we can find a guru through sincere prayers.
Rasikānanda Becomes A Potent Preacher

Rasikānanda Deva Gosvāmī fully committing himself in body, mind and soul to the service of his guru. Indeed, he served him so well that in a short time he was recognized as Śyāmānanda Prabhu’s chief disciple, a very powerful preacher and ācārya himself. In fact, it is a truism that a good disciple becomes a good teacher. A spiritual master may have innumerable followers who call him their guru, but are disciples in name only. Only a true disciple who has dedicated himself completely to his spiritual master is imbued with all the powers of the guru. Śyāmānanda Prabhu invested Rasikānanda Deva with such spiritual powers that he was able to convert many criminals, atheists, Muslims, and other fallen souls to the path of devotion, bestowing the jewel of prema upon them all.

On one occasion, a wicked Muslim tried to silence Rasika Murāri by having an intoxicated elephant attack him, but Rasikānanda Prabhu was able to transform even the elephant into a disciple and engage him in the service of Viṣṇu and the Vaiṣṇavas. All who witnessed this amazing event were overwhelmed with astonishment at Rasika Murāri’s spiritual power, and the evil Muslim zamindar himself came and surrendered to him.

Śyāmānanda Prabhu turned the service of his personal Govinda deity in Gopiballabhpur over to Rasikānanda. He delivered unlimited living beings without any consideration of their caste or religious background. He preached in every village accompanied by his disciples, thus delivering innumerable living beings. He remained constantly intoxicated in harināma-saṅkīrtana. Who will not be overcome with emotion on reciting his virtues? (Bhakti-ratnākara 15.81-6)

The Prema-vilāsa corroborates this account in the 19th chapter: “He delivered many criminals and Muslims.”

The Rājā of Mayurbhanj, Vaidyanātha Bhañja, Gajapati, the zamindar of Patashpur, Candrabhānu, the Rājā of Maynar, Harinārāyaṇa, the Rājā of Pancheta, Śrī Bhīma and Śrīkara, the zamindars of Dharenda; Ahmed Beg, the son-in-law of Ibrahim Khān, the governor of Odisha, were all attracted to the transcendental power of Rasikānanda Prabhu and became his disciples.

Rasikānanda Deva Gosvāmī wrote Śyāmānanda-śataka, Bhakta-Bhāgavatāṣṭaka, and Kuñjakeli-dvādaśaka.

Rasikānanda Prabhu met Śyāmānanda Prabhu after a long gap when the latter arrived from Ban Vishnupur and stayed in Narasimhapur. Rasikānanda Prabhu and all others fully rejoiced having their guru’s audience. Bhakti-ratnākara 9.256-8 states this event:

Śyāmānanda Prabhu accompanied with many disciples went to Odisha from Ban Vishnupur for few days. As soon as the news spread, everyone rushed to have his audience. Rasikananda and others were extremely pleased to see Śyāmānanda Prabhu in Narasimhapur.

Śyāmānanda Prabhu put on a large festival at Dharenda with Rasika Murāri and Dāmodara that is still remembered today by his descendants.
Rasikānanda’s Disappearance

It is said that just prior to Rasikānanda Deva Gosvāmī’s disappearance, he went with seven of his disciples to a village named Bansdaha near Jaleswar. Mahāprabhu passed through this village when travelling to Purī with Nityānanda Prabhu. (Caitanya Bhāgavata 3.2.263-4)

Rasikānanda Deva Gosvāmī and his disciples walked from there to Remuna, chanting kīrtana the whole way. When they arrived in the courtyard of the famous Kśīracora Gopīnātha Temple, Rasikānanda Prabhu suddenly merged into the Gopīnātha deity. His disciples also left their bodies in the same place. Rasika Murāri’s flower samādhi and those of his seven associates are still maintained in the courtyard of the Kśīrcora Gopīnātha Temple.

An annual festival lasting twelve days is held in Remuna to celebrate his disappearance. This takes place starting from the day after Śiva-caturdaśī in the month of Māgha.

Viśvambharānanda Deva Gosvāmī, the author of the celebrated Āstikya-darśana, was Rasikānanda Deva Gosvāmī’s descendant.

Excerpt from "Sri Chaitanya: His Life and Associates" by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj