Vishvanatha Chakravarti Th.

1
Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura
Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura took birth in the year 1586 Shaka era within the
Nadia district of West Bengal in a place called Prasiddha Deva Gram. He Shrila Chakravarti
Thakura went on to live in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, in Saiyadabad, where he
received mantra initiation from Shri Krishna Charana Chakravarti. When Shrila Vishvanatha
Chakravarti Thakura lived in Nadiya, he closely studied the scriptures, beginning with a study of
Sanskrit grammar, poetry, and rhetoric. It is said that even as a boy in school, he was an
undefeatable scholar who could overcome anyone in argument and debate. From an early age, he
was indifferent towards family life. For the purpose of binding his son in the contract of family life,
Vishvanatha's father arranged for his marriage when he was very young. He remained a married
man for only a short time. Soon he renounced his wife and home and went to live in Vrindavan.
After this, his parents and relatives made many unsuccessful attempts to induce him to return to
family life, but Vishvanatha Chakravarti was fixed in his determination to renounce wordly life and
surrender himself completely to the service of Krishna.
After having come to Vrindavan Dhama, Shri Vishvanatha took up his residence in the
bhajan kutir of Shri Krishna Das Kaviraja Goswami on the banks of the Radha-kunda, where there
lived a disciple of Krishna das Kaviraja whose name was Mukunda das. There, Shri Vishvanatha
Cakravarti made a careful study of the Goswami's literatures. In that holy place he later wrote many
commentaries on the books of the Goswamis.
Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura established the worship of the deity of Shri
Gokulananda. Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur was also sometimes known as Harivallabha das.
Vishvanatha's title, "Chakravarti" was awarded to him by the devotees. Generally this title
designates one who maintains (varti) a circle (chakra) of influence. Hence chakravarti usually
means "emperor," for the emperor's maintains his power over a vast circle. A more devotional
explanation of this title is found in the introduction to Vishvanatha's Svapna-Vilasamrita. There is
has been written "He who reveals the jewel of devotion to Vishvanatha, the Lord of the Universe,
and thus expands the circle of bhakti is a"Cakravarti."
Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura has written many books, among which are the
following:
Commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam (Sararthadarshini-tika), Bhagavad-gita

(Sararthavarshini-tika), Alankara Kaustubha (Subodhini-tika); Ujjvala-nilamani, Ananda
Vrindavana Champu (Sukhavartini-tika); Rupa Goswami's Vidagdha-Madhava Natakam, Gopal-
tapani-upanishad; Chaitanya-charitamrita; and original works such as Shri Krishna-Bhavanamrita
Mahakavya; Svapnavilasamrita; Madhurya Kadambini; Stavamala-lahari; Aishvarya Kadambini
[Note: this is not the same Aishvarya Kadambini as that of Baladeva Vidyabhusana. Baladeva
Vidyabhusan's book describes the opulences of Shri Krishna, whereas Vishvanatha's book by the
same name deals with the philosophy of achintya-bhedabheda-vada, Shri Chaitanya's philosophy
of inconceivable oneness and difference].
2
The diksha-guru-parampara of Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura is given as follows:

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Lokanatha Goswami, Narottama Thakura, Ganganarayan Chakravarti,
Krishnacharan Chakravarti, Radharaman Chakravarti, Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Shri
Krishna Charan Chakravarti and Radha Ramana Chakravarti both lived in Saiyadabad. Vishvanatha
Chakravarti Thakura studied extensively under them when he was in Saiyadabad before going to
Vrindavan, where he met Mukunda das Goswami, a disciple of Krishna das Kaviraja Goswami and
studied the Goswami literatures.
The siksha-guru-parampara is considered more important than the diksha-guru-

parampara,because it follows the descent of revealed truth through its most significant
representatives, as opposed to following a strictly sacerdotal heirarchy. The siksha-guru-
paramapara from Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura is, according to
Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, as follows: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarup
Damodara, Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami (along with Raghunatha Das Goswami,
Raghunath Bhatta Goswami, Gopal Bhatta Goswami), Shri Jiva Goswami, Krishna das Kaviraja
Goswami, Narottama Das Thakura (along with Shyamananda Prabhu and Shrinivasa Acharya),
Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura.
Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura was the protector,
guardian, and acarya during the middle period (1600-1700) of the historical development of
Gaudiya Vaisnavism.” The growth of Gaudiya Vaisnavism began with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It
was later rejuvenated by Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda, spread by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati,
and broadcast all over the world by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-
Acarya of ISKCON.
During his stay in Vrndavana, Visvanatha worshiped Deities of Radha Gokulananda and Sri
Giriraja. His Govardhana sila was first worshiped by Lord Caitanya, then Raghunatha Dasa
Gosvami, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja, Sri Mukunda Dasa, Srimati Krishna Priya Thakurani, and
Visvanatha Cakravarti. Today this Giriraja Govardhana Deity resides in the Radha-Gokulananda
temple in Vrndavana. Some claim the Govardhana sila is in “Bhagavat Nivas” in Ramana Reti near
the ISKCON Krishna Balarama Mandir.
In a dream Lord Sri Krishna ordered Visvanatha to make commentaries on the Gosvami's books.
Immeditately, he started writing prolifically. Clouds would shield him from the sun whenever he
sat to write. Once a torrential downpour flooded the area where Visvanatha was writing his
Bhagavata commentaries. Miraculously, not a drop touched Visvanatha or his Bhagavata
manuscript.
While compiling Mantrartha Dipika (explanation on Kama Gayatri), Visvanatha became perplexed.
According to his exhaustive research which indicated twenty five, he couldn't substantiate why
Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote in Caitanya-caritamrta that Kama Gayatri contains twenty-four and
3
one-half syllables. And that these syllables correspond to the twenty-four and one-half moons
present on Krishna's transcendental body.
In a dream Srimati Radhika instructed Visvanatha, “O Visvanatha, Please don't lament anymore.
What Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote is true. He is also My confidential maidservant. And he knows
everything about My most secret innermost moods. This Kama Gayatri is the mantra for
worshiping Me. Indeed, I can be known by the syllables of this mantra. Without My mercy, no one
can learn anything about the mystery of this mantra.”
“The solution to the half syllable is found in the book Varnagama-bhasvadi. Seeing this book,
Krishna Dasa Kaviraja wrote as he did. The letter ya which is followed by the letter vi as in the
words kama devaya vidmahe is considered to be a half syllable. This falls on Krishna's forehead
because His forehead is shaped like the halo of a half moon. All the other letters of the mantra are
full syllables and therefore full moons. Now wake up, check that book, and compile this evidence
for everyone's benefit.”
Instantly awaking, Visvanatha cried out in ecstasy—“Hey Radhe! Hey Radhe! Hey Radhe!”
Having Radharani's darsana infused Visvanatha Cakravarti's writing with divine sakti. He felt that
he had been accepted as one of Srimati Radharani's confidential maidservants. His writings
reflected this realization.
In Krishna lila he serves Srimati Radhika as Vinoda-vallari manjari. His samadhi is in the Radha
Gokulananda temple courtyard.
Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura disappeared on the Vasant Panchami day in the
month of Magh.

Vishvanatha Chakravarti Th.

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vishvanatha Chakravarti Th.

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Vishvanatha Chakravarti Th.

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Who was Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura and what were some of his major contributions?

What is the diksha-guru-parampara and siksha-guru-parampara of Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura?

1

Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura

Commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam (Sararthadarshini-tika), Bhagavad-gita

The diksha-guru-parampara of Shri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura is given as follows:

The siksha-guru-parampara is considered more important than the diksha-guru-

You might also like