SIX GOSWAMIS OF VRINDAVAN – INTRODUCTION
Who is called a Swami or Goswami?
There are many titles given to exceptional performers in devotional service.
These are a few examples:
(i) Prabhupada
(ii) Dasa/ Dasi
(iii) Paramahamsa
(iv) Swami
(v) Acharya
(vi) Goswami,
(vii) Prabhu, etc.
(FIVE PRIMARY DUTIES OF A DEVOTEE RECOMMENDED BY SRI CAITANYA MAHA PRABHU! READ HERE!)
Goswami title is a symbol of a qualification. It is given for any saint seeing their exceptional sense control and service to the Lord Krishna.
A person who is controlled by the senses and mind is called GO-DASA, ie, servant of senses.
Its opposite, ie, those who have controlled their senses and mind is called GO-SWAMI, ie, Master of senses.
So, “Goswami” means “The Master of the Senses” (or) “lord of cows”.
So unless one is not master of the senses, his accepting this title of Swami and Goswami is cheating.
Six Goswamis of Vrindavan
The following six associates and servants of Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu had such a dedication and purity to be called as Goswamis. They were ordered by Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu to stay, serve and also develop Vrindavana by finding and exploring the places of importance in Vrindavana where Krishna, Gopis and Radharani performed their lilas.
(ACHARYAS ON CHANTING THE HOLY NAMES OF KRISHNA! READ HERE!)
Those six Goswamis are:
(i) Rupa Goswami
(ii) Sanatana Goswami (Rupa and sanathana are brothers)
(iii) Jiva Goswami (Nephew of Rupa and sanathana)
(iv) Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami
(v) Gopala Bhatta Goswami
(vi) Raghunatha Dasa Goswami.
Only these goswamis took the messages of Sri Caitanya Maha prabhu by writing many books and established the Gaudiya vaishnava sampradhaya.
We will see the details of these six goswamis one by one in our site in the form of diaries.
(Sri Caitanya, Acharyas & Krishna devotees visiting Other Temples – Proofs! READ HERE!)