Raghunatha Dasa Goswami

Raghunatha Dasa Goswami Biography

Raghunatha Dasa Goswami was one of the principal disciples of the Vaishnava saint, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who are collectively known as the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan. He was also known as Dasa Goswami. These 6 disciples together formulated the theological basis of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition which is still followed by believers. They also recorded the philosophical writings. Raghunatha dasa was renowned for his qualities of simplicity and renunciation.

He was born in the dynasty of Vaishnavas to a wealthy landlord Govardhana Dasa from Saptagram. During his childhood he received blessings of Haridasa Thakura which enlighten his spiritual life. He had also spent some time with Haridasa. Since childhood he was not at all interested in wealth and pleasure. Instead he was leaned towards prayers and religious practises. This brought displeasure to his parents who ordered the guards not to let him go outside home. But Dasa Goswami escaped from his home and recahed Jagannath Puri where he met his guru, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is regarded as incarnation of Lord Krishna and Radha combined.

Later Raghunatha dasa led a life of extreme devotional practice who spent 22 hours every day chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. He used only the rest 2 hours for his food and sleep. He wore a simple torn cloth and a patchwork scarf. He served Chaitanya for sixteen years at Jagannatha Puri and then moved to Vrindavan. He lived for many years at a sacred lake known as Radha-kunda and the place where he worshipped still exists. He has also been credited many books in Vaishnavism. Madana-gopala-stotra, Govardhana-vasa-prarthana-dasaka, Harinamartha-ratna-dipika, Caitanyastaka, Raghunatha-dasa-gosvaminah Prarthana, Stavavali, Vilapa-kusumanjali, Prarthanamrita, Abhista-sucana, Prarthanasraya-caturdasaka and Manah-siksa are among his noted works.

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Updated: March 12, 2014