Biography of Shri Ghananand - Rasik Saint of Vrindavan

Ghanananda was the topmost leading poet in the three major styles of poems Ritibaddha, Ritisiddha and Ritimukta. Acharya Ramchandra Shukla estimated until the year 1746 to be the era of Ghananand. Thus Ghanananda is Anandaghan of Vrindavan. The original name of the poet may have been Anandaghan, but due to the rhetorical rhythms, etc., he himself became Ghananand.
His spiritual master was Shri Vrindavan Devacharya who was the great acharya of the Nimbarka sect.

Birth: 

His birth is estimated to be 1689 AD (circa).

Before Arrival at Vrindavan:

Poet Ghananand's heart was engrossed in describing the glory of his lover, where would he have had the leisure to write something for himself?

The description of 'Sujan' is found in the poetry of Ghananand - but it is also necessary to discuss who was this Sujan. Ghanananda was the Khas-kalam (private secretary) in the court of Muhammad Shah Rangeela. On this too - he was an expert in Persian. He was an excellent poet and an excellent singer. Being a genius, the king had great grace on him. He fell in love with a prostitute named Nipun Sujan in a dance-singing lore at the court of Muhammad Shah Rangeela. Here, all courtiers were envious of Sujan's attachment to him and on the other hand, with the advancements of Ghananand as (private secretary) of the king. They eventually hatched a conspiracy in which Ghananand was completely robbed. The courtiers told Muhammad Shah Rangeela that Ghananand sings very well. Admitting to them, the king asked him to sing one day, but he was such a proud and opinionated person that he refused to sing. The courtiers knew that he would never sing a song at the behest of the emperor and the same happened. The courtiers were waiting for this to watch. They told the emperor that if Sujan was called and if she requests Ghananand, he would definitely sing and it happened. Sujan was summoned to the court by the king's orders and at his behest, Ghananand sang the song - facing Sujan and showing back to the king, but sang so tenderly that the emperor and all the courtiers became enchanted. But as much as the king enjoyed while listening to the song, he got angry after the ending of the song. It was his disloyalty that Sujan's words exceeded him. As a result, he immediately ordered Ghananand to leave the court and state. The desire of the courtiers was fulfilled.

Ghananand urged Sujan to come with him, but she protected her ethnic quality and refused to accompany Ghananand. After He lost everything, Ghananand looked towards Vrindavan. He had become completely disinterested in life. In Vrindavan, he took initiation into the Nimbarka sect. Later He fell in love with Lord Krishn and Shri Radharani. The final time of Ghanananda's life was spent in Vrindavan.

Ahmad Shah Abdali made the first invasion of Mathura in Samvat. 1813 and the second attack in Samvat 1817. We find a description of both these invasions in Chacha Hit Vrindavandas' Harikala Beli-

Many great personalities and saints were killed in these attacks. In Samvat 1817, Chacha Hit Vrindavandas Ji saw the body of Ghanananda with his own eyes and described it in such a way as to grieve over his body-

Ghanananda wished that he should give up his life while rolling in Braj-Raja and Lord Krishna fulfilled his wish. Confirmation of this is found in one place in the 'Radha-Krishna Granthawali' - "Hear me, he told the slaughtermen in Mathura to give him the sword wounds for a while. He got wounds as he wished, he continued to roll in Braj-raja and gave up his life. "

The number of texts composed by Ghanananda is 41.

Sujanhit, Kripakandanibandh, Viyogbeli, Ishqlata, Yamunayash, Pritipavas, Premapatrika, Premasarovar, Vrajvilas, Rasavasant, Anubhav Chandrika, Rangabadhai, Prempaddhati, Vrishabhanupur Sushma, Gokulgit, Nammadhuri, Giripujan, Vicharsaar, Daanghata, Bhavnaprakash, Krishnakaumudi, Dhamchamatkar, Priyaprasad, Vrindavanmudra, Vrajswaroop, Gokulcharitra, Prempaheli, Rasnayash, Gokulvinod, Murlikamod, Manorathmanjari, Vrajvyavhar, Girigatha, Vrajavarnan, Chhandashtak, Tribhangi verses, Kabittasangraha, Sphut Padavali and Paramhansavanshavali.

The Ghanananda Bibliography compiles 14 of his works. In the name of Ghanananda, there are about four thousand poems and Savaiya. His most popular work is 'Sujan Hit', which has 507 poems. Sujan's love, form, conflict, etc. are described in these. Sujan Sagar, Virah Leela, Kripakand Nibandh, Rasakeli Valli, etc. are prominent. Many of his works have also been translated into English.