Life of Rasikananda Prabhu

RASIKANANDA PRABHU – BIOGRAPHY http://gaudiyahistory.
com/sri-
rasikananda-prabhu/
(In the images: RasikanandaPrabhu and his house).
Rasikananda Deva Goswami was born in 1512 of the Saka era (1590 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 Raja Achyutananda and his mother, Bhavani Devi.
The Subarnarekha River crosses back and forth across the present-day
Bengal-Orissa border. Midnapore district used to be a part of the
Orissan kingdom. Raja Achyutananda was an Orissan of the Karana caste,
the equivalent of the Kayasthas in Bengal. A Vaishnava is beyond the
material qualities and should not be judged in terms of his caste
origins
Sri SriRadhaRasik Ray worshiped by SrilaRasikanandaPrabhu at his
hometown Rayani.
Rasikananda was also known by the name RasikaMurari. Mother Jahnava's

disciple Nityananda Das wrote in his Prema-vilasa that Shyamananda had
two principle disciples, one named Rasikananda, the other Murari, both
of whom lived in Rayni. But NarahariChakravarti indicates clearly in
Bhakti-ratnakara that both names refer to the same individual.
In the village of Rayni lived the famous son of Achyutananda. He

had two names: Rasikananda and Murari. Thus he was also known as
Rasika-Murari. He became learned in the scriptures in his childhood.
(Bhakti-ratnakara 15.27-8)
RasikaMurari Meets ShyamanandaPrabhu
RasikaMurari was anxious to find a spiritual master who could give him
guidance on the mystical path. One day while in Ghantashila, he 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, "Murari! You
need be anxious no longer. Your guru is Shyamananda and you will meet
him here very shortly. Take shelter of him and your life will be
successful."
Upon hearing the divine message, Murari began chanting the name of
Shyamananda on his beads 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 dream vision of ShyamanandaPrabhu
who said to him, "Don't worry any longer, for you will meet me on this
very day."
At dawn, RasikaMurari was on the lookout for his guru, when he saw
the tall figure of Shyamananda approaching him, as effulgent as the
sun. Surrounded by disciples like Kishor Das, he was dancing in a
state of absorption in divine love while chanting the names of
Nityananda and Chaitanya. RasikaMurari had been waiting anxiously for
so long to encounter his guru that he immediately fell down at his
feet. Shyamananda affectionately lifted him up and embraced him. Then,
after giving him the Radha-Krishna mantra, he offered him up to
Chaitanya and NityanandaPrabhus. This whole story demonstrates how we
can find a guru through sincere prayers.
RasikanandaPrabhu
At dawn, RasikaMurari was on the lookout for his guru, when he saw the
tall figure of Shyamananda approaching him, as effulgent as the sun.
Surrounded by disciples like Kishor Das, he was dancing in a state of
absorption in divine love while chanting the names of Nityananda and
Chaitanya. RasikaMurari had been waiting anxiously for so long to
encounter his guru that he immediately fell down at his feet.
Shyamananda affectionately lifted him up and embraced him. Then, after
giving him the Radha-Krishna mantra, he offered him up to Chaitanya
and NityanandaPrabhus. This whole story demonstrates how we can find a
guru through sincere prayers.
Rasikananda Becomes a Potent Preacher
Rasikananda Deva Goswami fully committed 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 Shyamananda's chief disciple, a very
powerful preacher and initiating guru 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 mater is imbued with all the powers of the
guru. Shyamananda invested Rasikananda with such spiritual power that
he was able to convert many criminals, atheists, Muslims, and other
fallen spirit souls to the path of devotion, bestowing the jewel of
prema upon them all.
On one occasion, a wicked Muslim tried to silence RasikaMurari by

having him attacked by an intoxicated elephant, but Rasikananda was
able to transform even the elephant into a disciple and engage him in
the service of Vishnu and the Vaishnavas. All who witnessed this
amazing event were overwhelmed with astonishment at RasikaMurari's
spiritual power and the evil Muslim zamindar himself came and
surrendered to him.
Shyamananda turned the service of his personal Govinda Deity in
Gopiballabhpur over to Rasikananda. He delivered unlimited living
beings without any consideration of their caste or religious
background. Rasikananda remained constantly intoxicated in
Harinamsankirtana. Who will not be overcome with emotion on reciting
his virtues? (Bhakti-ratnakara 15.81-6)
The Prema-vilasa corroborates this account in the 19th chapter,

"He delivered many criminals and Muslims."
The Raja of Mayurbhanj in Orissan, VaidyanathBhanj, was also

attracted to the transcendental power of Rasikananda and became his
disciple. Other important disciples were Ganapati, the zamindar of
Patashpur in Midnapore, Shri Bhima and Shrikara, zamindars of
Dharenda, and Ahmed Beg, the son-in-law of Ibrahim Khan, the governor
of Orissa.
Rasikananda Deva Goswami wrote a number of works, including

Shyamananda-staka, Bhakta-Bhagavatashtaka, and Kunjakeli-dvadashaka.
Rasikananda's Disappearance
It is said that just prior to Rasikananda's disappearance in AD

1652, he went with seven of his disciples to a village named Bansdaha
near Jaleshwar. Mahaprabhu passed through the village when traveling
to Puri with Nityananda. (ChaitanyaBhagavata 3.2.263-4)
Rasikananda and his party walked from there to Remuna, chanting kirtan
the whole way. When they arrived in the courtyard of the famous
KhirchoraGopinath Temple, Rasikananda suddenly merged into the body of
the Gopinath Deity. His disciples also left their bodies in the same
place. RasikaMurari's flower samadhi and those of his seven associates
are still maintained in the courtyard of the KhirchoraGopinath Temple.
An annual festival lasting twelve days is held in Remuna to celebrate
his disappearance. This takes place on Shiva-chaturdasi in the month
of Magh.
Rasikananda and his party walked from there to Remuna, chanting kirtan
the whole way. When they arrived in the courtyard of the famous
KhirchoraGopinath Temple, Rasikananda suddenly merged into the body of
the Gopinath Deity. His disciples also left their bodies in the same
place. RasikaMurari's flower samadhi and those of his seven associates
are still maintained in the courtyard of the KhirchoraGopinath Temple.
(In the wallpaper: in the background Samadhi of RasikanandaPrabhu,
Deities of Shri ShriRadhaRasikananda and footprints of
RasikanandaPrabhu).
(In the wallpaper: in the background Samadhi of RasikanandaPrabhu,

Deities of Shri ShriRadhaRasikananda and footprints of
RasikanandaPrabhu). - See more at:
http://gaudiyahistory.com/rasikananda-prabhu-
biography/#sthash.qew0DXE7.dpuf
See more at http://gaudiyahistory.com/sri-

rasikananda-prabhu/
For more details , can also read the book by H.H
Bhaktivikas swami .

Life of Rasikananda Prabhu

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What was Rasikananda's spiritual name?

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RASIKANANDA PRABHU – BIOGRAPHY http://gaudiyahistory.

(In the images: RasikanandaPrabhu and his house).

Rasikananda was also known by the name RasikaMurari. Mother Jahnava's

In the village of Rayni lived the famous son of Achyutananda. He

RasikaMurari Meets ShyamanandaPrabhu

Rasikananda Becomes a Potent Preacher

Rasikananda Deva Goswami fully committed himself in body, mind and

On one occasion, a wicked Muslim tried to silence RasikaMurari by

The Prema-vilasa corroborates this account in the 19th chapter,

The Raja of Mayurbhanj in Orissan, VaidyanathBhanj, was also

Rasikananda Deva Goswami wrote a number of works, including

It is said that just prior to Rasikananda's disappearance in AD

(In the wallpaper: in the background Samadhi of RasikanandaPrabhu,

See more at http://gaudiyahistory.com/sri-

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