Rupa Goswami facts for kids

Rupa Goswami (1489–1564) was a special teacher, poet, and thinker in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. He was known for his deep devotion. With his brother Sanatana Goswami, he was one of the most important of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan. They were close followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is believed to be a hidden form of Krishna.

Biography

Family Background

Rupa Goswami's family came from Karnataka in South India. Later, they moved to Naihati in West Bengal, India.

A long time ago, Rupa's family had famous scholars and respected leaders. One ancestor, Padmanabha, was very smart and loved Lord Jagannatha. He moved his family to the banks of the Ganges River in a village called Navahatta (now Naihati).

Later, Padmanabha's grandson, Kumara, moved his family to East Bengal. He built a house in a village called Fateyabad in Jessore. This made it easier for devotees to visit.

Kumara had many sons. The most famous were Sanatana (the oldest), Rupa (the middle), and Vallabha (the youngest). They were all very smart and devoted. They lived in the village of Ramakeli in Gauda (now Maldah, West Bengal).

Birth and Early Life

Rupa Goswami was born around 1489 CE. People have different ideas about where he was born. Some say it was Naihati, while others think it was in Bangladesh or Maldah.

Rupa and his brothers, Sanatana and Vallabha (also called Anupama), were very good students. They learned many subjects, including Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian. They also studied law and logic.

Because they were so smart and good, the ruler of Bengal, Alauddin Husain Shah, asked Rupa and Sanatana to work for his government. Rupa became the chief secretary, and Sanatana became the state revenue minister.

Meeting Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Rupa and his brothers lived in Ramakeli. In 1514 CE, they met Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for the first time. This meeting changed their lives forever. Chaitanya gave them their spiritual names: Rupa, Sanatana, and Anupama.

Later, Rupa and Anupama met Chaitanya Mahaprabhu again in the holy city of Prayaga (now Prayagaraj). Chaitanya gave Rupa Goswami two very important tasks:

• To find and protect the lost holy places in Vrindavana.
• To write books and teach about Gaudiya Vaishnava beliefs.

Chaitanya then sent Rupa Goswami to Vrindavana to start this work.

Deep Devotion

Rupa Goswami wrote a special poem during a big festival called Rath Yatra. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked him to read it to his closest friends. Everyone who heard the poem praised Rupa Goswami. They said his poem was full of deep love for God.

Because of this, Rupa Goswami is seen as the most important follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. People who follow his teachings are called Rupanugas.

Life in Vrindavana

Rupa and Sanatana stayed in Vrindavana for the rest of their lives. They lived very simple lives, full of devotion. Rupa found many holy places connected to the stories of Krishna. He also found a very old statue of Govindadeva, which Krishna's great-grandson had worshipped.

Rupa and Sanatana worked closely with other holy people in Vrindavana. Their nephew, Jiva Goswami, also joined them. Rupa taught Jiva about the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy.

Rupa Goswami passed away in 1564 CE. His tomb is in the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara temple in Vrindavana.

In Gaudiya Vaishnava beliefs, Rupa Goswami is thought to be a special helper of Radha and Krishna.

Works

Rupa Goswami wrote many books in Sanskrit. These books are about philosophy, poetry, and plays. Here are some of his most famous works:

• Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (The Ocean of Nectar of Divine Love): This is a very important book in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. It explains how devotion to God grows, from simple faith to the highest love for God.
• Ujjvala-nilamani (The Sapphire of Divine Love): This book focuses only on the idea of divine romantic love. It is like a second part to Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.
• Laghu-bhagavatamrta (A Summary of Nectar about Godhead): This is a shorter version of a book by his brother Sanatana Goswami. It talks about Krishna and his different forms, and also about Krishna's devotees.
• Vidagdhamadhava (1524) & Lalitamadhava (1529): Rupa first started these as one play. But he later made them into two separate plays. Lalitamadhava is about Krishna's stories in Dvaraka, and Vidagdhamadhava is about Krishna's stories in Vrindavana.
• Stavamala (The Flower Garland of Prayers): This is a collection of many short prayers.
• Danakelikaumudi (The Lotus-like Tax-collecting Pastimes) (1549): This play tells a fun story about Krishna and the Gopis (cowherd girls) of Vrindavana.
• Sri Radha-krsna-ganoddesa-dipika (A Lamp to See the Associates of Radha-Krsna) (1550): In this book, Rupa Goswami lists the friends and helpers of Radha and Krishna and describes them.
• Mathura-mahatmya (The Glories of Mathura): This book talks about how wonderful the holy city of Mathura is. It explains that visiting Mathura can remove bad deeds and bring good results.
• Uddhava-sandesa (News of Uddhava): This book tells the story of Krishna sending his friend Uddhava to Vrindavana. Uddhava's job was to comfort Krishna's friends and family there.
• Hamsa-dutam (The Swan Messenger): This story is about Radha's friend, Lalita. She sends a swan as a messenger to Krishna in Dwaraka.
• Sri Krsna-janma-tithi-vidhi: This short guide explains how to worship Krishna's statue during the festival of Janmastami. This festival celebrates Krishna's birthday.
• Nataka-candrika (The Illuminating Moon of Dramatics): This book explains the rules for writing plays in the Gaudiya Vaishnava style.
• Upadesamrta (The Nectar of Instruction): This short book has eleven verses of advice for people who want to follow the path of devotion to Krishna.

See also

In Spanish: Rupa Goswami para niños