Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami

Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami (1503-1579), Raga-manjari in Krishna-lila, was the son of Tapana Mishra of Varanasi. As a boy he washed Mahaprabhu's dishes and massaged His legs when the Lord stayed at his father's house. Later he lived with the Lord in Puri for eight months at a time, cooking for Him with such skill that Mahaprabhu relished everything he prepared. The Lord told him not to marry, to serve his devotee parents, and finally to go to Vrindavan under the care of Rupa and Sanatana. There he became famous for reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam in three melodies, often choked with ecstasy. He inspired his disciple Raja Man Singh to build the Govindaji temple and made ornaments for the Deity. He never spoke of worldly matters or listened to criticism of any Vaishnava. He is the only one of the Six Goswamis who left no books. His samadhi is at Radha-kunda and near the Govindaji temple.

Before going to Vraja he served his elderly devotee parents in Varanasi for four years and studied the Bhagavatam under a realised Vaishnava, as the Lord had instructed. The Lord gave him His own neck beads, a fourteen-cubit tulasi garland worn by Lord Jagannatha, and betel, which he worshipped and wore around his neck in remembrance. Fearing desecration, Jiva Gosvami had his body cremated; his ashes rest at the Teen Goswami Samadhi at Radha-kunda and in the 64 Samadhi area near Govindaji.

See every Vaishnava as engaged in Krishna's service and avoid finding fault; hear and speak only about Krishna; and relish Srimad-Bhagavatam constantly.

Tolerance, Sweetness, Faultless conduct, Expertise in cooking and kirtan, Absorption in the Bhagavatam