Birth and childhood:
No suitable evidence of Shri Bhattadevacharya Ji’s presence is found. His presence - period is believed to be the late 15th century and early sixteenth century. Very little is known about his parents. They were Gaur Brahmins and residents of district Hisar (Haryana), but settled in Mathura before Shri Bhatt Ji was born. Shri Bhattji was born in Mathura itself.
Spiritual life:
Shri Bhattadeva was a disciple of Sri Keshva Kashmiri Bhattaji. After Sri Keshva Kashmiri Ji became the 38th Acharya of Nimbarka Sampradaya. Shri Bhattdev Ji was the first person from North India who became the Acharya of the Nimbarka sect. He was the first orator of the Nimbarka sect, who composed his compositions in Braj Bhasha. He was the first Acharya of the Nambark Sampradaya, who preached the melodious - devotional rasa and composed the Sankirtans of Radha-Krishna's melodious pastimes considering it as the main goal of His life. Shri Bhattdev ji stayed in Braj till the end after becoming the Acharya of Nimbaraka Sampradaya. His samadhi is located at Narada Tila.
Disciple tradition:
Among his disciples, Shri Harivyas Devacharya, the famous Acharya of Nimbarka sect was the most prominent. Shri Harivyas Devacharya composed Mahavani which is considered as the foundation of Rasopasna.
Compositions:
Shri Bhata Devacharya composed ‘Yugal Shatak' which consists of hundred verses of Shri Radha Krishn and Vrindavan Dham. In this book, Shri Bhattadeva has described both Braj-Leela and Nikunj-Leela succinctly. It is said that He composed many more verses in addition to these, some of which are still found in the old Libraries and Kirtan collections. The brief but explicit description of the doctrine of ‘Rasopasana’ of the Nimbarka sect is found for the first time in Shri Bhattadeva's 'Yugal Shatak'.
Pastimes:
There were many pastimes in the life of Shri Bhattadevacharya Ji, out of which two are as follows:
Once Shri Bhattadevacharya Ji was singing the verse of Shri Radha Krishn’s leelas, sitting in the mid-summer (noon) time. The verse is as follows -
“Bheejat Jab Dekhaun Ye Naina.
Shyama Ju Ki Surang Chunariya, Mohan Ko Uparaina.
Jugal Kishor Kunjarat Thade, Jatan Kiyo Kachhu Main Na.
Umadi Ghata Chahun Disi Shri Bhatt Ghiri Aai Jal Sena. .
Meaning: Shri Bhata Devacharya says, "When will I see the most beautiful clouds appearing in the sky, further will it be raining brightly and Will Shri Krishn’s Pitambar and Shri Radha’s Chunari become wet? Will they both stand under the shade of a tree at Nikunj. Are they soaking? Alas, I have not done anything for them to prevent them from soaking. He was singing this verse, suddenly all the clouds appeared, it started raining, Nikunj is formed and Shri Radha Krishn’s exact pastimes he was singing, appeared before His eyes in the bowers of Vrindavan.
Second pastimes related to Him while He was composing Yugal Shatak book is as such. Shri Bhata Devacharya composed many other verses and couplets as well. He dedicated all the verses to His Gurudev Shri Keshav Kashmiri Bhattji. Shri Bhattadevacharya told his Gurudev that I have seen the leelas and pastimes of Priya-Priytam in their divine form and exactly the same, I have composed and written in the form of couplets and verses. Shri Keshav Kashmiri Bhattji looked at his creation and said, "There are no deserving aspirants of these secluded pastimes in this world, so these pastimes you should not be published publicly”. So His Gurudeva proposed a solution and asked Shri Bhata Devacharya to go to Yamuna Ji, and surrender all your verses in Yamunaji. The verses which will come out and float in Yamuna Ji, You may publish them, else let Yamuna Ji only take decision of those secret pastimes. It has been found that Yamuna Ji allowed only Yugal Shatak to publish, as it was floating in it.
No suitable evidence of Shri Bhattadevacharya Ji’s presence is found. His presence - period is believed to be the late 15th century and early sixteenth century. Very little is known about his parents. They were Gaur Brahmins and residents of district Hisar (Haryana), but settled in Mathura before Shri Bhatt Ji was born. Shri Bhattji was born in Mathura itself.
Spiritual life:
Shri Bhattadeva was a disciple of Sri Keshva Kashmiri Bhattaji. After Sri Keshva Kashmiri Ji became the 38th Acharya of Nimbarka Sampradaya. Shri Bhattdev Ji was the first person from North India who became the Acharya of the Nimbarka sect. He was the first orator of the Nimbarka sect, who composed his compositions in Braj Bhasha. He was the first Acharya of the Nambark Sampradaya, who preached the melodious - devotional rasa and composed the Sankirtans of Radha-Krishna's melodious pastimes considering it as the main goal of His life. Shri Bhattdev ji stayed in Braj till the end after becoming the Acharya of Nimbaraka Sampradaya. His samadhi is located at Narada Tila.
Disciple tradition:
Among his disciples, Shri Harivyas Devacharya, the famous Acharya of Nimbarka sect was the most prominent. Shri Harivyas Devacharya composed Mahavani which is considered as the foundation of Rasopasna.
Compositions:
Shri Bhata Devacharya composed ‘Yugal Shatak' which consists of hundred verses of Shri Radha Krishn and Vrindavan Dham. In this book, Shri Bhattadeva has described both Braj-Leela and Nikunj-Leela succinctly. It is said that He composed many more verses in addition to these, some of which are still found in the old Libraries and Kirtan collections. The brief but explicit description of the doctrine of ‘Rasopasana’ of the Nimbarka sect is found for the first time in Shri Bhattadeva's 'Yugal Shatak'.
Pastimes:
There were many pastimes in the life of Shri Bhattadevacharya Ji, out of which two are as follows:
Once Shri Bhattadevacharya Ji was singing the verse of Shri Radha Krishn’s leelas, sitting in the mid-summer (noon) time. The verse is as follows -
“Bheejat Jab Dekhaun Ye Naina.
Shyama Ju Ki Surang Chunariya, Mohan Ko Uparaina.
Jugal Kishor Kunjarat Thade, Jatan Kiyo Kachhu Main Na.
Umadi Ghata Chahun Disi Shri Bhatt Ghiri Aai Jal Sena. .
Meaning: Shri Bhata Devacharya says, "When will I see the most beautiful clouds appearing in the sky, further will it be raining brightly and Will Shri Krishn’s Pitambar and Shri Radha’s Chunari become wet? Will they both stand under the shade of a tree at Nikunj. Are they soaking? Alas, I have not done anything for them to prevent them from soaking. He was singing this verse, suddenly all the clouds appeared, it started raining, Nikunj is formed and Shri Radha Krishn’s exact pastimes he was singing, appeared before His eyes in the bowers of Vrindavan.
Second pastimes related to Him while He was composing Yugal Shatak book is as such. Shri Bhata Devacharya composed many other verses and couplets as well. He dedicated all the verses to His Gurudev Shri Keshav Kashmiri Bhattji. Shri Bhattadevacharya told his Gurudev that I have seen the leelas and pastimes of Priya-Priytam in their divine form and exactly the same, I have composed and written in the form of couplets and verses. Shri Keshav Kashmiri Bhattji looked at his creation and said, "There are no deserving aspirants of these secluded pastimes in this world, so these pastimes you should not be published publicly”. So His Gurudeva proposed a solution and asked Shri Bhata Devacharya to go to Yamuna Ji, and surrender all your verses in Yamunaji. The verses which will come out and float in Yamuna Ji, You may publish them, else let Yamuna Ji only take decision of those secret pastimes. It has been found that Yamuna Ji allowed only Yugal Shatak to publish, as it was floating in it.