Srila Bhugarbha Goswami

Just as there is very little mentioned in the scriptures about the life of Srila Lokanatha Goswami, in the same way, there is little written about his dear friend Srila Bhugarbha Goswami. Srila Lokanatha and Sri Bhugarbha Goswami were of one heart and mind. On the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu they went to live in Vrindavana. Bhugarbha Goswami was a disciple of Gadadhara Pandita. Among his disciples were Sri Govindadeva's pujari Caitanya Dasa, as well as Mukundananda Cakravarti, Premi Krisnadasa and others.

Sri Krisnadasa Kaviraja Goswami writes: "The eleventh branch of Gadadhara Goswami was Bhugarbha Goswami and the twelfth was Bhagavata Dasa. Both of them went to Vrindavana and resided there for life."

Sri Kavikarnapura writes in his Gaura-ganodesa-dipika that Bhugarbha Goswami was formerly the gopi named Prema Manjari in Vrindavana. While in Vrindavana, Bhugarbha Goswami passed away and entered into the unmanifest pastimes of the Lord on the fourteenth day of the full moon in the month of Kartika.

Lokanatha Goswami and Bhugarbha Goswami lived together in Vrindavana as one. Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakura writes about them in his Bhakti-ratnakara: "Bhugarbha Goswami and Lokanatha Goswami were world-preachers; they were so close and affectionate to one another that they were like one body."

In Vrindavana, Bhugarbha Goswami and Lokanatha Goswami were regarded as among the principle Goswamis, as they were senior by age and experience to many. The foremost among the subsequent followers of Rupa Goswami, Narottama Dasa Thakura, writes about Bhugarbha Goswami, with whom he had much affectionate association: "O Hari! Why am I addicted to this abominable path of karma? I didn't worship Radha-Krishna in Vraja even one iota, nor could I understand the position of spontaneous devotion - raga-marga. Svarupa Damodara, Sanatana Goswami, Raghunatha Bhatta, Raghunatha dasa, Gopala Bhatta Goswami, Bhugarbha Goswami, Jiva Goswami, and Lokanatha Goswami - I never offered a drop of service to their lotus feet. How then shall I attain the goal of life? Krisnadasa Kaviraja is among the most exalted rasika-bhaktas, devotees whose sole interest is in relishing the mellows of devotion to Radha-Govinda and Mahaprabhu. He compiled the Caitanya-Caritamrita which describes the pastimes of Sri Caitanya and the Govinda-lilamrita, describing the pastimes of Radha-Krisna. Hearing the pastimes of Gaura-Govinda would melt even stone, but it had no effect on my consciousness. Not only have I failed to take advantage of the association of all these great souls, but I have also neglected their associates and followers. What a sad story my life has become. My life and birth are all useless. Shame on me. Alas, alas. Thus laments Narottama Dasa."

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