Biography of Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji

“Kalyan Pujari Ji was a high-class devotee who observed the path of the exclusive worship of Shri Shyamashyam. He always spoke sweet words which used to take away the hearts of devotees and give them happiness. He had great compassion towards others, always thinking of the welfare of others. He used to worship the feet of the devotees with mind, speech, and action. Shri Kalyan Pujari, son of Dharmdas Ji, used to share devotion and give charity to everyone. He was of a very modest nature, whose mind was always immersed in Shri Radha Krishn.”

Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji was born in a Sanadhya Brahmin family. His father's name was Dharmdas.

Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji had the inclination to associate with saints from the very childhood. Even those saints only brought him to Vrindavan to Goswami Shri Vanachandra Ji. They requested Goswami ji to accept him (Kalyan Pujari) and take him to your shelter. With the persuasion of the saints, the compassionate Goswami Ji initiated Kalyan Pujari Ji by placing his lotus hand on his head. Goswami Ji assured him by telling that "You will always be with me." Kalyan Pujari himself has mentioned this incident in these words -

Ever since I was born, I have done nothing good, I was always indulged in sensual pleasures. Saints kindly introduced me to my spiritual master Shri Vanchandra Ji in Vrindavan and prayed for me - "O Lord, keep him (Kalyan Pujari) in your service. Take away all his sorrows and faults, and bless him." Shri Vanchandra Ji put his lotus hand on my head and kept me near him, I feel that I was always a servant of my spiritual master.”

Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji, after taking initiation from Goswami Vanachandra Ji, has also revered him, in the form of a spiritual master, in many verses.

Soon after initiation, Kalyan Pujari physically cooperated with the laborers in the construction work of Shri Radhavallabh Temple while living at the residence of His spiritual master Goswami Shri Vanchandra Ji. As a result of which he received the personal service of Shri Radha Vallabhalal Ji and he started serving Him regularly with the mode of love followed by the Radhavallabh sect. He had unwavering faith in the devotees of His worshipful deity. He considered them as his Lord. He used to serve them with his mind, words, and actions. He feels satisfied only after eating the leftover food remnants of the Rasik devotees and drinking their Charnamrit (holy water which is taken after washing the feet of devotees). He used to listen to verses glorifying Shri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu and the glories of Shri Radha Krishn mentioned in the sectarian Vanis. He used to inspire everyone to listen to this and used to aspire to remain like this always.

When will I develop love for the Rasik devotees and take shelter in their lotus feet and live happily? When will I become their servant and drink the holy water after washing their lotus feet? When will I feel the sweetness of the leftover food remnants of the devotees, which immerses the heart with divine love? When will I drink the sweet nectar of the verses written by Shri Harivansh Mahaprabhu from the ears? Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji says "O Harivansh Mahaprabhu, the son of Shri Vyas Ji, I beg this unto your lotus feet.”

At the time when the red stone temple of Shri Radha Vallabh Ji was being constructed by Goswami Shri Gopinath ji's disciple Sunderdas Kayath, at that time Shri Kalyan Pujari was also engaged in the same construction work throughout the day along with the laborers who built the temple; But He did expect anything as remuneration. On completion of the temple construction, Goswami Shri Vanachandra ji (Vanmalidas Ji) again happily asked him what exactly do you want. Kalyan Pujari said that if you want to give, then be kind enough to grant me personal service to your Lord. Goswami Ji was pleased with this causeless service of his servant and immediately gave him the personal service of Shri Radha Vallabhalal Ji. Govind Ali Ji has mentioned this auspicious story of sweet demand in 'Rasik Bhakt Gatha' in these words -

Kalyan Pujari ji's exclusiveness towards his worshipful deity was ideal for the devotees of that time. He did not even go to visit any temple other than his worshipful Shri Radha Vallabhalal Ji. The devotees who visited other temples wanted to know the reason for not going there as they describe the beauty and bliss of those temples. Then Kalyan Pujari ji used to explain to them in very sweet words, "O brother! One should always visit only one's worshipful deity because if one looks more opulence in other temples than one's own, then a feeling of inferiority will appear, in that case, there will be a possibility of malice in our hearts. Therefore, One should remain exclusively attached to one’s worshipful deity. In fact, those who are true and Rasika Ananya devotees, get happiness only where Shri Radha is considered supreme; not elsewhere -

Kalyan Pujari Ji has mentioned the way of living in Vrindavan in his verses -

O fool! Ignorant, give up pride, and live life in Shri Vrindavan through Madhukari. O wicked, give up your arrogance and put on a Gudari (Haik, stiched of old and torn cloth). Leave the greed of gold and hold the Karuva (pot made up of soil of Braj) in your hands. Eat the leftover food remnants of the devotees, and be satisfied by listening to the glories of the worshipful deity. Remain fearless, and don't care about anything. The one who takes shelter of Shri Vanchandra Ju, the foremost seated in the assembly of Rasik exclusives, will definitely reach the Lotus Feet of Shri Radha Krishn.

Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji had firm faith even for the exclusive devotees of the worshipful deity. He used to offer bhog (food) to Shri Radha Vallabhalal Ji with heartfelt love and used to serve the prasad to the devotees and himself used to take their Charanamrit (the holy water taken after washing their lotus feet) along with their leftover food remnants. Some people, who considered Vedic rituals as the topmost, were displeased with the actions of Kalyan Pujari Ji. The displeased people expressed their grief to Goswami Shri Damodarvar Ji; But Goswami Ji, while supporting Kalyan Pujari ji, explained to those people that the devotee and the Lord are one and this principle is in accordance with the scriptures.

These backbiters, later convinced Raasdas and Vilasdas, sons of Goswami Shri Damodarvar ji, on their side. One day both of them said to their father Goswami Damodarvar Ji to remove Kalyan Pujari from the service. Goswami Shri Damodarvar ji did not listen to his sons, but Kalyan Pujari heard this, and feeling sad, he gave the keys of the temple to Goswami Shri Damodarvar ji. That day someone else served Shri Radhavallabh Ji; But seeing the lack of heartfelt love in that priest, Shri Radhavallabh Ji did not accept his service at all. Shri Radhavallabh Ji told Goswami Shri Damodarvar ji in a dream that we are very sad and hungry without Kalyan. We will accept the service only when he will offer us food with love. In the morning, Goswami Shri Damodarvar Ji narrated this dream of Shri Radha Vallabhalal Ji to everyone and after calling Kalyan Pujari, he gave the keys of the temple and granted him the service of Shri Radhavallabh Ji, which Kalyan Pujari had been doing since 1584 by the order of his grandfather Goswami Shri Vanachandra Ji. Goswami Shri Damodarvar ji told Kalyan Pujari to serve Shri Radhavallabh Ji in the same way as you used to do and remain firm in your devotion towards the Rasik devotees -

- Bhagvat Mudit Ji, Rasik Anany Mal

Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji has composed many verses of Kavitt-Savaiya, Chaupai, Chhappay, Mangal, etc. as well as prose verses which are compiled in the book "Kalyan Pujari Ji Ki Vani" and its total number is 236.

Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji has used impressions of 'Kalyan', 'Kalyandas', 'Hit Kalyan', 'Kalyandasi', 'Dasi Kalyan' as well as 'Kali' and 'Kali Ali' in his verses.

The date of disappearance of Kalyan Pujari Ji is unknown, but on the basis of 'Rasik Ananya Saar' by Goswami Shri Jatanlal Ji, it is definitely known that he disappeared while performing the aarti of Shri Radhavallabhlal Ji -

Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji was always engrossed in the love of his worshipful deity and love singing their glories. He always stayed in the temple, serving Shri Radhavallabh ji, and never went out of the temple. He was always engrossed in the beautiful form of the divine couple Shri Shyamashyam. He used to visit only Shri Radhavallabh temple and did not go to other temples. He used to eat only the prasad of His Lord. He was an exclusive devotee and very generous, used to listen to the verses of Sri Harivansh Mahaprabhu. Shri Kalyan Pujari Ji left his material body while performing the aarti of Shri Radhavallabh Ji.