Birth :
Goswami Shri Rooplal Ji was born on the 7th day of the darker fortnight in the month of Vaishakh in 1681 in the family of Shri Hita Harivanshji Maharaj. His father was Goswami Shri Harilalji and his mother was Shri Krishna Kunvari.
Childhood: (Child stubbornness to see Shri Radhavallabh)
There was terror everywhere during those days. The deities of the Lord of various temples were hidden everywhere by the devotees. Shri Radhavallabhalalji was kept in Ajangarh near Kamyavan (Kaman) in those days. Once in the month of Shravan (July-August), there was flood in Shri Yamuna Ji and Ajangarh started drowning. Here in Vrindavan, the child Rooplal suddenly started crying and was very determined to see Shri Radhavallabhji. His father tried to explain the situation but He compelled his father to take him to Ajangarh, even after taking the troubles of the flood. After reaching there, seeing Shri Radhavallabhalalji, child Rooplal became engrossed in the ecstasy of Shri Radhavallabhlal's beauty. Forgetting his situation that He is not allowed to serve Shri Radhavallabh before spiritual initiation, He went towards the deity and when his father stopped him, He started crying.
He said, 'I will touch the Lotus Feet of Shri Radhavallabhalalji!' The child's request was devotional. But without initiation, without taking bath, it was not proper to let the child into the temple. When the father tried to explain, child Rooplal jumped into the Yamuna which was rising from the flood - saying 'Let me take a bath immediately'.
This kind of faith and courage of a nine-year-old boy was amazing. Somehow his father took care of him, bathed him, and initiated him by giving the mantra. After listening to the mantra, child Rooplal fell in love and went to the temple and embraced the feet of Shri Radhavallabh. He anointed those feet with his tears of love. With great difficulty, his father was able to console him and take him out from there after a very long time, and even then child Rooplal kept on weeping with folded hands.
Wild Elephant paid obeisance to Shri Rooplal Ji in Sankri Khor of Barsana:
For some time Shri Rooplal Ji remained in Kamyavan with his father. From there, He came to Vrindavan through Barsana. On the way, when they were coming through the narrow way of Sankri Khor, there, a wild elephant was coming towards their palanquin. The bodyguards and palanquin lifters fled leaving the palanquin. His father was terrified; But the elephant came near the palanquin, touched the feet of the child Rooplal with its trunk, and went to another way with calmness. Everyone was astonished by this incident and started considering Shri Rooplal Ji as a great man.
Education and Marriage:
Since childhood, Shri Rooplal Ji had strong sanskaras of devotion. He used to do Sohni (brooming) service with utmost love in Ras-Mandal with his own hands. After schooling and marriage, at around the age of twenty years, He got himself engaged in His devotion service and spent the whole time traveling.
Differences with Scholars and Jaipur King regarding the Vedic rituals:
Once Brahmana Scholars in Braj told Shri Rooplal Ji:
"Why don't you perform Vedic rituals ?"
Shri Rooplal Ji replied: The time prescribed in the Vedas for Vedic rituals is the time of the service of Lord for me, for eg; when you do morning Sandhya (a Vedic ritual of the morning), I do Mangala Aarti of my Lord. When you do afternoon Sandhya (a Vedic ritual of the afternoon), I do Rajbhog Aarti of the Lord. When you do the evening Sandhya (a Vedic ritual of the evening), I wake up my Lord for his service. That's why I don't do anything other than the service of my Lord.
Secondly, I am always in the service of Eternal and Supreme Personality Shri Radhavallabh Lal, so why should I do the Vedic rituals to reach Lord Vishnu who is an expansion of Shri Radhavallabh?
Hearing this answer, all the Brahmana Scholars were very ashamed and complained to Jaipur Maharaj Sawai Jai Singh Ji. The Brahmana Scholars went to the king and said that Goswami Shri Rooplal Ji resides in Shri Vrindavan but does not follow Vedic religion and without Vedic religion, there is no Brahmanism. The king came to Shri Vrindavan and told Shri Rooplal Ji that why you do not do Vedic rituals and also urged that you must follow Vedic religion, but Shri Rooplal Ji rejected the King's advice considering it a hindrance in service. Later, the king got angry and took over all the properties of Shri Rooplal Ji. Shri Rooplal Ji along with Shri Radhavallabhalal came to Rohtak city from Shri Vrindavan. However, the king of Rohtak City respected Shri Rooplal very much, and knowing all his story, He decided to defeat Maharaja Jai Singh. After coming to Braj and defeating Maharaja Jai Singh, the Rohtak king made his dominion over Kamyavan and helped Shri Rooplal Ji to reside there. He built a temple and installed Shri Radhavallabh Ji in it and Shri Rooplal Ji started residing there.
Construction of Shri Vrishabhanu Temple by His disciple in Barsana:
Once Sewa Sakhi Ji, a disciple of Shri Rooplal Ji, introduced himself to the king of Gonda and made him his disciple and came to Kamyavan with one lakh rupees and presented it to Shri Rooplal Ji. Shri Rooplal Ji ordered that a temple of Shri Vrishabhanu Ji should be built in Barsana from this wealth and the festival of Shri Radha Ashtami should also be held there. Hearing this order, Seva Sakhi Ji got the temple built and the celebrations were done properly. Seva Sakhi Ji established the deity in this temple and this temple is under the control of His disciples.
Commencement of pilgrimage and arrival in Gujarat:
Due to the love of Shri Ramakrishna Mehta in Gujarat, Shri Rooplal Ji resided in his house for eight months. By His grace, Mehtaji had darshan of Shri Radha Krishna. Shri Rooplal Ji did many journeys to Braj Mandal. After residing at Govind-Kund, He worshiped a Giriraj rock for six months. A beautiful deity of Shri Yugalkishor appeared from that rock, which is now established at Radha-Kunda.
Rejecting the Siddhis (supernatural powers) in Prayag:
During a visit to East India, a Saint gave a coconut to Shri Rooplal Ji in Prayag and said, "If you eat it, you will attain many supernatural powers." But Goswami Ji returned the coconut and said: Maharaj! Siddhis (supernatural powers) are useless for one who desires Krishna's grace.
Shri Rooplal Ji cured an incurable disease of the daughter of His disciple:
Shri Rooplal Ji came to Patna from Prayag through Kashi. In Patna, at the request of a pure-hearted Vaishnav Shri Ramdas, Shri Rooplal Ji accepted to take the deity of Shri Yugalkishor. The deities are now installed in Vrindavan. Later, Shri Rooplal Ji reached Jagannath Puri. This journey to East India was completed in four years. While returning, He came to Agra and cured the incurable disease of Vishnibai, the daughter of His disciple Vaishnav Dayaldas.
Darshan of Shri Radharani in Barsana:
When Shri Rooplal Ji arrived at Barsana, It is known that Shri Radharani was so pleased with His devotion that She Appeared before Him and gave him darshan.
Text Composition:
Goswami Shri Rooplal Ji has composed many books containing small poems and used his poetic talents in the poems of the Nectar of Nitya-Vihar. His poems are sung during festivals. He tried to make the Nitya-Vihar Nectar wide and public. His composition of Saanjhi Pastimes is an example of this. Before him, this Pastime was not found in Radhavallabhiya literature.
The language of Shri Rooplal Ji's poems is simple and the word selection is beautiful. Apart from the poems, many small independent texts are found, most of which are in couplets. Two collections of his verses are known as 'Pratham Vijay Chaurasi' and 'Dvitiya Vijay Chaurasi', of which 84 poems are compiled in each.
About twenty texts have been available of Shri Rooplal Ji. Some of the texts are as follows -
Ashtayam Sewa Prabandh, Maanasi Sewa Prabandh, Nityavihar, Goodh-Dhyan, Pad Siddhant, Braj-Bhakti, Vanivilas-Prabhriti.
Disciple Tradition:
Shri Rooplal Ji has had many disciples, among whom Lalmurlidhar, Kasturibai, Shri Chachaji Vrindavan Dasji, Jantilok, Bhaansakhi, Kishori Dasji were prominent.
Disappearance:
While living in Barsana in His last years, Shri Rooplal Ji used to serve Shri Radha Krishna and there he left his body in the year 1818 and entered Nikunj Palace.
Goswami Shri Rooplal Ji was born on the 7th day of the darker fortnight in the month of Vaishakh in 1681 in the family of Shri Hita Harivanshji Maharaj. His father was Goswami Shri Harilalji and his mother was Shri Krishna Kunvari.
Childhood: (Child stubbornness to see Shri Radhavallabh)
There was terror everywhere during those days. The deities of the Lord of various temples were hidden everywhere by the devotees. Shri Radhavallabhalalji was kept in Ajangarh near Kamyavan (Kaman) in those days. Once in the month of Shravan (July-August), there was flood in Shri Yamuna Ji and Ajangarh started drowning. Here in Vrindavan, the child Rooplal suddenly started crying and was very determined to see Shri Radhavallabhji. His father tried to explain the situation but He compelled his father to take him to Ajangarh, even after taking the troubles of the flood. After reaching there, seeing Shri Radhavallabhalalji, child Rooplal became engrossed in the ecstasy of Shri Radhavallabhlal's beauty. Forgetting his situation that He is not allowed to serve Shri Radhavallabh before spiritual initiation, He went towards the deity and when his father stopped him, He started crying.
He said, 'I will touch the Lotus Feet of Shri Radhavallabhalalji!' The child's request was devotional. But without initiation, without taking bath, it was not proper to let the child into the temple. When the father tried to explain, child Rooplal jumped into the Yamuna which was rising from the flood - saying 'Let me take a bath immediately'.
This kind of faith and courage of a nine-year-old boy was amazing. Somehow his father took care of him, bathed him, and initiated him by giving the mantra. After listening to the mantra, child Rooplal fell in love and went to the temple and embraced the feet of Shri Radhavallabh. He anointed those feet with his tears of love. With great difficulty, his father was able to console him and take him out from there after a very long time, and even then child Rooplal kept on weeping with folded hands.
Wild Elephant paid obeisance to Shri Rooplal Ji in Sankri Khor of Barsana:
For some time Shri Rooplal Ji remained in Kamyavan with his father. From there, He came to Vrindavan through Barsana. On the way, when they were coming through the narrow way of Sankri Khor, there, a wild elephant was coming towards their palanquin. The bodyguards and palanquin lifters fled leaving the palanquin. His father was terrified; But the elephant came near the palanquin, touched the feet of the child Rooplal with its trunk, and went to another way with calmness. Everyone was astonished by this incident and started considering Shri Rooplal Ji as a great man.
Education and Marriage:
Since childhood, Shri Rooplal Ji had strong sanskaras of devotion. He used to do Sohni (brooming) service with utmost love in Ras-Mandal with his own hands. After schooling and marriage, at around the age of twenty years, He got himself engaged in His devotion service and spent the whole time traveling.
Differences with Scholars and Jaipur King regarding the Vedic rituals:
Once Brahmana Scholars in Braj told Shri Rooplal Ji:
"Why don't you perform Vedic rituals ?"
Shri Rooplal Ji replied: The time prescribed in the Vedas for Vedic rituals is the time of the service of Lord for me, for eg; when you do morning Sandhya (a Vedic ritual of the morning), I do Mangala Aarti of my Lord. When you do afternoon Sandhya (a Vedic ritual of the afternoon), I do Rajbhog Aarti of the Lord. When you do the evening Sandhya (a Vedic ritual of the evening), I wake up my Lord for his service. That's why I don't do anything other than the service of my Lord.
Secondly, I am always in the service of Eternal and Supreme Personality Shri Radhavallabh Lal, so why should I do the Vedic rituals to reach Lord Vishnu who is an expansion of Shri Radhavallabh?
Hearing this answer, all the Brahmana Scholars were very ashamed and complained to Jaipur Maharaj Sawai Jai Singh Ji. The Brahmana Scholars went to the king and said that Goswami Shri Rooplal Ji resides in Shri Vrindavan but does not follow Vedic religion and without Vedic religion, there is no Brahmanism. The king came to Shri Vrindavan and told Shri Rooplal Ji that why you do not do Vedic rituals and also urged that you must follow Vedic religion, but Shri Rooplal Ji rejected the King's advice considering it a hindrance in service. Later, the king got angry and took over all the properties of Shri Rooplal Ji. Shri Rooplal Ji along with Shri Radhavallabhalal came to Rohtak city from Shri Vrindavan. However, the king of Rohtak City respected Shri Rooplal very much, and knowing all his story, He decided to defeat Maharaja Jai Singh. After coming to Braj and defeating Maharaja Jai Singh, the Rohtak king made his dominion over Kamyavan and helped Shri Rooplal Ji to reside there. He built a temple and installed Shri Radhavallabh Ji in it and Shri Rooplal Ji started residing there.
Construction of Shri Vrishabhanu Temple by His disciple in Barsana:
Once Sewa Sakhi Ji, a disciple of Shri Rooplal Ji, introduced himself to the king of Gonda and made him his disciple and came to Kamyavan with one lakh rupees and presented it to Shri Rooplal Ji. Shri Rooplal Ji ordered that a temple of Shri Vrishabhanu Ji should be built in Barsana from this wealth and the festival of Shri Radha Ashtami should also be held there. Hearing this order, Seva Sakhi Ji got the temple built and the celebrations were done properly. Seva Sakhi Ji established the deity in this temple and this temple is under the control of His disciples.
Commencement of pilgrimage and arrival in Gujarat:
Due to the love of Shri Ramakrishna Mehta in Gujarat, Shri Rooplal Ji resided in his house for eight months. By His grace, Mehtaji had darshan of Shri Radha Krishna. Shri Rooplal Ji did many journeys to Braj Mandal. After residing at Govind-Kund, He worshiped a Giriraj rock for six months. A beautiful deity of Shri Yugalkishor appeared from that rock, which is now established at Radha-Kunda.
Rejecting the Siddhis (supernatural powers) in Prayag:
During a visit to East India, a Saint gave a coconut to Shri Rooplal Ji in Prayag and said, "If you eat it, you will attain many supernatural powers." But Goswami Ji returned the coconut and said: Maharaj! Siddhis (supernatural powers) are useless for one who desires Krishna's grace.
Shri Rooplal Ji cured an incurable disease of the daughter of His disciple:
Shri Rooplal Ji came to Patna from Prayag through Kashi. In Patna, at the request of a pure-hearted Vaishnav Shri Ramdas, Shri Rooplal Ji accepted to take the deity of Shri Yugalkishor. The deities are now installed in Vrindavan. Later, Shri Rooplal Ji reached Jagannath Puri. This journey to East India was completed in four years. While returning, He came to Agra and cured the incurable disease of Vishnibai, the daughter of His disciple Vaishnav Dayaldas.
Darshan of Shri Radharani in Barsana:
When Shri Rooplal Ji arrived at Barsana, It is known that Shri Radharani was so pleased with His devotion that She Appeared before Him and gave him darshan.
Text Composition:
Goswami Shri Rooplal Ji has composed many books containing small poems and used his poetic talents in the poems of the Nectar of Nitya-Vihar. His poems are sung during festivals. He tried to make the Nitya-Vihar Nectar wide and public. His composition of Saanjhi Pastimes is an example of this. Before him, this Pastime was not found in Radhavallabhiya literature.
The language of Shri Rooplal Ji's poems is simple and the word selection is beautiful. Apart from the poems, many small independent texts are found, most of which are in couplets. Two collections of his verses are known as 'Pratham Vijay Chaurasi' and 'Dvitiya Vijay Chaurasi', of which 84 poems are compiled in each.
About twenty texts have been available of Shri Rooplal Ji. Some of the texts are as follows -
Ashtayam Sewa Prabandh, Maanasi Sewa Prabandh, Nityavihar, Goodh-Dhyan, Pad Siddhant, Braj-Bhakti, Vanivilas-Prabhriti.
Disciple Tradition:
Shri Rooplal Ji has had many disciples, among whom Lalmurlidhar, Kasturibai, Shri Chachaji Vrindavan Dasji, Jantilok, Bhaansakhi, Kishori Dasji were prominent.
Disappearance:
While living in Barsana in His last years, Shri Rooplal Ji used to serve Shri Radha Krishna and there he left his body in the year 1818 and entered Nikunj Palace.