Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, one of the six prominent Goswamis of Vrindavan, was the son of the devoted Tapan Mishra. Born around 1425 Sakabda (A.D. 1504), he possessed exceptional expertise in reciting Srimad-Bhagavatam and was renowned for his extraordinary culinary skills that produced the nectarean preparations.
When he met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Puri, the Lord was so pleased with his cooking that he regularly accepted his food offerings. Raghunatha Bhatta would then honour the remnants (prasadam) left by Mahaprabhu. During his stay in Puri, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bestowed special blessings upon him, offering betel nuts that had been offered to Lord Jagannatha and a magnificent tulasi garland measuring fourteen cubits in length.
After eight months in Puri, Mahaprabhu instructed him to travel to Vrindavan to join Srila Rupa Goswami. The Lord specifically ordered him to remain celibate, never to marry, and to recite Srimad-Bhagavatam daily. Following these divine instructions, he journeyed to Vrindavan where he served Srila Rupa Goswami by daily reciting the entire Srimad-Bhagavatam. His recitation was extraordinarily melodious, as he would chant each verse in three different beautiful tunes.
The lotus feet of Gaura-Govinda (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) were the very life and soul of Srila Raghunatha Bhatta. With deep devotion, he arranged for his disciples to construct a temple for Govinda and personally crafted various ornaments for the Deity, including a flute and distinctive shark-shaped earrings.
His spiritual discipline was exemplary. He completely avoided material conversations, engaging only in discussions about Krishna and worshipping the Lord continuously day and night. He maintained such pure consciousness that he would never listen to blasphemy against any Vaishnava, nor would he hear criticisms of their behaviour. In his elevated spiritual vision, he saw everyone as engaged in Krishna’s service and could not perceive anything contrary to this divine perspective.
According to the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (verse 185), Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami was previously the gopi known as Raga-manjari in Krishna’s eternal pastimes.
