Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami

Sri Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami was born in 1505 in Eastern Bengal . His father, Sri Tapan Mishra, was a great devotee of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Tapan Mishra met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, first in Eastern Bengal, and then again in Varanasi . While in Varanasi , Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to dine at Sri Tapan Mishra’s home and Raghunatha would often massage the Lord’s feet. He became very attached to the Lord.

As a boy Raghunatha was adept in Sanskrit grammar and rhetoric. He became well versed in the scriptures. Upon coming of age his father sent him to Puri, where he met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He spent eight months in the service of the Lord. He would cook for him on a regular basis. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Raghunatha never to marry and to study the scriptures.

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He ordered him to return to Varanasi and to care for his ageing parents. He further told him that he would see Him again in Jagannatha Puri. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave Raghunatha a tulasi garland from His neck.

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When Raghunatha ‘s parents passed away, he returned to Jagannatha Puri where he spent a further eight months in the service of the Lord. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then sent Raghunatha to Vrindavana, to study the Srimad-Bhagavatam and other revealed scriptures under the guidance of Sri Sanatana and Sri Rupa Goswami. After some time Raghunatha’s disciples built a temple for Sri Gaura Govinda in Vrindavana.

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Raghunatha was full of humility and meekness. He was permanently engaged in remembrance of the Lord. He passed away in 1579.