Biography of Goswami Shri Vanchandra Ji

Shri Vanchandra Goswami Ji was the eldest son of Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu. He was born on the 6th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Chaitra (April) in 1528 in Devavan.

 

Shri Vanchandra Ji was totally inclined to the Lotus Feet of Shri Radharani from childhood. Being Brajbhasha his mother tongue, he was very proficient in it, as well as he received Sanskrit education and became a scholar of Sanskrit.

 

Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu had manifested Shri Navrangilal Ji from a well in his childhood. When Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavan from Devavan, Shri Vanchandra Ji remained in Devavan and engaged in the service of Shri Navrangilal Ji.

 

Shri Vanchandra Ji had four sons, the eldest Shri Sundarvar Ji was born on the 15th day in the bright fortnight in the month of Ashwin (Sept-Oct) in 1552. His second son was Shri Radha Vallabhdas Ji, who was born on the 15th day in the bright fortnight in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) in 1553. His third son was Nagarwar Ji, who was born on the 15th day in the bright fortnight in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) in 1554. His fourth son was Shri Brajbhushan Ji who had appeared in 1555.

 

After staying in Devavan for a few days, Shri Vanchandra Ji became restless for the darshan of Mahaprabhu and came to Vrindavan with his three brothers. On seeing Shri Radhavallabh Ji in Vrindavan, he felt extremely blissful and bowed at his Lotus Feet. Then he bowed at the feet of Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu gave the service of Shri Radhavallabh Ji to Shri Vanchandra Ji by explaining to him the service system of Shri Radhavallabh Ji. Now Shri Vanchandra Ji started getting engrossed in the service of Shri Radhavallabh Ji.

 

By giving the service of Shri Radhavallabh Ji to Shri Vanchandra Ji, Mahaprabhu disappeared with his material body on the Sharad Purnima of 1552. Then all the Vaishnavas together made Shri Vanchandra Ji seated on the throne of Mahaprabhu on the 13th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) and on the same day, Shri Radhavallabh Ji's Patotsav festival was held. All the Vaishnava were very happy and they were worshipped on the occasion of Shri Vanchandra Ji's enthroning on the seat of Mahaprabhu. All the Vaishnavas and Brajwasis were fed. On the same day, Shri Vanchandra Mahaprabhu Ji got the new name from the Vaishnavas "Shri Vanmalidas Ji" just after sitting on the throne.

 

During the lifetime of Mahaprabhu, the Muslim rulers did not allow the construction of Hindu temples. A few days after Shri Vanchandra Prabhu took over the reins of the Radhavallabh-sect, the tolerant rule of Emperor Akbar had begun in Delhi and he had ordered his Hindu ministers to build the shrines.

At that time in Shri Vrindavan, Shri Vanchandra Goswami, the eldest son of Shri Harivansh Mahaprabhu, was seated on the Acharya seat of Shri Radhavallabh Sect. The fame of his devotion had spread far and wide. Shri Radhavallabh Ji was seated in a small temple at that time. Seeing this, Gopal Singh Yadav, an officer of King Akbar, met Shri Vanchandra Goswami and proposed to build a new huge temple for Shri Radhavallabh Ji in front of him. Shri Vanchandra Goswami said that I have accepted the proposal to build the temple, but one thing is strange here and that is exactly one year after the day on which Shri Radhavallabh Ji will sit in the new temple, the builder of the temple will leave his body and will attain the Lotus Feet of the Lord. Gopal Singh got scared after hearing this and got up after prostrating and left.

After this, the famous general of Akbar, Maharaja Mansingh met Shri Vanchandra Goswami and offered the proposal to build a new temple for Shri Radhavallabh Ji. Goswami Ji placed the same condition in front of him as well. Being frightened by this, he went to Shri Roop Goswami of Shri Chaitanya Sampradaya and with his permission got the famous temple of Shri Govindadev Ji built. Many other people met Shri Vanchandra Goswami with the proposal to build the temple, but no one could stay in front of the fear of death.

A disciple of Shri Vanchandra Goswami lived in Delhi. He had a desire to serve the Lotus Feet of his spiritual master by inviting him to his house in Delhi. He wrote many letters to his spiritual master and had come to Vrindavan several times with the prayer. Seeing his devotional love, Goswami Shri Vanchandra Ji came to his house and fulfilled his wish. When Sundardas Ji, a disciple of Goswami Shri Gopinath Ji, heard that the eldest brother of his spiritual master had come to Delhi, he also visited him at his house and offered one lakh rupees in his service. At the same time prayed to him that "Please utilize this offering in the service of the Lord and please do not go anywhere outside Shri Vrindavan. You will not be able to do as much favor to the living beings by going outside of Vrindavan. I will send money whenever you command me to serve the Lord." Shri Vanchandra Goswami felt very bad about these words of Sunderdas Ji and got angry. He said to him, "Oh you idiot, even the Supreme Lord keeps on nurturing the love of the devotees by being under their control. When the devotee calls him anxiously, Shri Hari leaves everything and runs to that devotee. This is the nature of the Lord towards his devotees. These devotees also roam around in the world doing favors to the living beings. Just as the sun moves in all four directions destroying the fear and darkness of the world, similarly these saints also roam everywhere and remove the darkness of the world. These saints are not dependent on others and do their work only after being inspired by the will of the Lord."

Saying this Shri Vanchandra Goswami rejecting all the offerings, started towards Vrindavan. Sunderdas Ji felt very remorseful for his audacity. He started thinking that I had committed a great mistake, by trying to preach to the spiritual master. At the same time, he decided that I would not eat food until Shri Vanchandra Ji was pleased. He continued to do his duties by taking only a little milk. After several days, the information of the said incident reached his spiritual master Goswami Gopinath Ji in Devavan. Shri Gopinath Ji came to Delhi and took Sunderdas Ji with him and came to his elder brother Shri Vanchandra Goswami. Shri Vanchandra Ji met Sundardas Ji very lovingly but was not ready to accept his offerings. Sunderdas Ji requested that I have already presented this money to you. If you permit, I will use it in the construction of the temple of the Lord. Shri Vanchandra Goswami told the same thing to Sunderdas Ji which he had said to Gopal Singh Yadav and Maharaja Mansingh. Hearing this condition, Sundardas Ji considered it as his great fortune and prayed that "Oh, you have granted me the holy dust of Vrindavan which is rare even for Lord Brahma. I gladly accept your condition. My only wish is that after leaving this body, my samadhi should be made in front of the newly constructed temple."

Shri Vanchandra Goswami Ji accepted this prayer. The construction work of the temple was completed in three years. In great enthusiasm, Sunderdas Ji spent a lot of money on the construction of the temple. This gave an opportunity to his opponents and they complained about this to Khankhana that Diwan Sunderdas Ji is emptying your treasury. Rahim Khankhana was very famous for his generosity. He called Sundardas Ji and said that there should be no shortage of funds in the temple you are building in Vrindavan, otherwise, I will be defamed. Keep taking as much money as you need from the treasury. Sunderdas Ji with more enthusiasm became engaged in the service of the Lord. He made many valuable ornaments for the Lord. On the 13th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) in 1584, Shri Radhavallabh Ji was seated in the new temple with great pomp.

For a year, Sunderdas Ji kept on doing all the festivals of the Lord with full enthusiasm. After one year, when the 13th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) came, he gathered his spiritual masters, family, and saints of Shri Vrindavan and washed their feet and took a sip of that water. After this, he requested to please sing the verse 'Bani Vrishabhanunandini Aaj' of 'Hit Chaurasi'. Everyone sang the verse together. As soon as the last line of the verse was completed, Shri Sunderdas Ji left his body and attained the Lotus Feet of Shri Radhavallabh Ji.

 

Shri Vanchandra Ji had a special desire to meet Sewak Ji. He used to say that "If I see Sewak Ji, I will spend all the Wealth of the Temple." After several days Shri Sewak Ji came to Vrindavan. At that time Shri Vanchandra Ji was engaged in the service of Shri Radhavallabh Ji. The eyes of Shri Radhavallabh Ji used to be fixed always on Goswami Ji. But today, Shri Radhavallabh Ji's eyes are not on him, seeing this Goswami Ji thought that "what mistake has happened by me that Shri Radhavallabh Ji's eyes are not on me. Shri Sewak Ji must have come because he is the only one who is more dear to Shri Radhavallabh Ji than me." Thinking this, he looked outside and saw Shri Sewak Ji standing in the courtyard, seeing him, Shri Vanchandra Ji came out and hugged him. Then he ordered that all the items of the storehouse should be distributed to the Brajwasis and saints. Hearing this, Shri Sewak Ji prayed that all the items of stores should not be wasted because of me, only today's offerings should be distributed because unoffered items should not go out without offering to the Lord. Hearing the words of Shri Sewak Ji, Goswami Ji gave the same order and distributed that day's offerings. Sewak Ji resided in Vrindavan for a few days and presented his composition to Shri Goswami. Seeing the composition, Shri Vanchandra Ji ordered that this composition must be recited with Shri Chaturasi Ji because both pieces of literature are going to save human beings from the web of evil.

 

In addition to Shri Radhavallabh Temple, Goswami Vanchandra Ji also built another temple in 1592 on the Raas Mandal which was established by Shri Hit Mahaprabhu. He also constructed a Dol Temple in the middle of Shri Radhavallabh Ji's temple and Sewakunj. And in front of it was Raas Mandal. Raas Leela is performed regularly at this place for many years in the evening by different congregations. This is the only place in Vrindavan where Raas Leela takes place regularly.

 

There are three compositions in Sanskrit of Shri Vanchandra Goswami - 'Shri Radha Ashtottarshatnamani', 'Shri Harivanshashtak' and 'Shri Priyanamavali'. Some of his verses related to festivals are found in the Braj language. He composed his work under the impression of 'Vanmalidas'. The language of the verses is inspired by Sanskrit and is mature.

Shri Vanchandra Ji had composed a book called "Shrihit Dampati Vilas". Seeing that book, everyone said that it is more beautiful than the composition of Shrihit Mahaprabhu, hearing this, Shri Vanchandra Ji shed that book in Shri Yamuna Ji. Then he composed several verses in Braj language. For example -

 

 

The names of the main disciples of Shri Vanchandra Ji are Chaturbhujdas Ji, Bhuvandas Ji, Nagridas Ji, Jhoontha Swami Ji, Bhagmati Ji, Kalyan Pujari Ji, Madhau Mukund Ji, Surdhwaj, Madhau Rasik Ju, Jaydev Ji, Kalyani Bai, Bhagwandas Ji, Somnath Bhatt, Vaishnavdas Ji. All these disciples were householders, only Jhoontha Swami Ji and Chaturbhujdas Ji had taken renunciation.

 

Shri Vanchandra Ji distributed the service of the Lord to his four sons and got absorbed in the Lotus Feet of the Lord. He gave evening service to Shri Sundarvar Ji, Shringar Aarti of Morning to Shri Radha Vallabh Das Ji, Raj Bhog Aarti in the afternoon to Shri Nagarwar Ji, and Mangala Aarti in the morning to Shri Braj Bhushan Das Ji. In this way, after distributing the Lord's service among all the four sons, Shri Vanchandra Ji left his body and entered Nikunj on the 11th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Agahan (Dec-Jan) in 1608.