In the year 1590 AD (Sakabda 1512), Sri Rasikananda Prabhu appeared on the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartik. His father was King Sri Acyuta Deva, and his mother Sri Bhavani, who belonged to the Karana caste. They lived in Rohini village, which is situated in present-day Odisha. Sri Rasikananda was also known as Murari.
From his childhood, Sri Rasika-Murari was highly devoted to Sri Krishna. Hearing the name Krishna would choke his voice, and tears would flow from his eyes. During his grain ceremony, Rasikanada Prabhu picked up Srimad Bhagavatam and grabbed the book to his heart. He would offer respect to all vaishnavas. Sri Rasika Prabhu would roam village to village in search of beloved Lord Sri Krishna. He would serve cows and feed them with his own hands. Since his childhood, Sri Rasika was fond of chanting thousands of names of Krishna daily. So much so that he even refused food if the chanting wasn’t completed. He was very fond of hearing Srimad Bhagavatam. He would re-enact the pastimes of Krishna along with his friends.
Sri Rasikananda Prabhu was such an excellent student that he would gain mastery over subjects that others would take years to learn. No one could match him in merit. He studied under the tutelage of great scholars of grammar like Vaidya Balabhadra Sena, Anukula Chakravati, Kavi Chandra, and Yadunandana Chakravati. He mastered the philosophies of tarka, sankhya, sankhyayana, mimamsa, and Patanjali. But above all, he enjoyed studying Srimad Bhagavatam most. Sri Rasikananda Prabhu used to relish the nectar of devotional pieces of literature with a devotee named Hari Dubey.
Sri Rasikananda Prabhu was very devoted to His parents. Sri Rasikananda Prabhu got married at a very young age. His wife’s name was Shyamadasi, who was a mine of good character, hailed from a village by the name Ghonta sila. It is believed that this is the same village where the Pandavas had lived in exile.
One day, Sri Rasikananda was sitting in a lonely place and wondering when he would get shelter at the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master. “Don’t be anxious, you would become a disciple of Sri Shyamananda”, a voice spoke from the sky. Hearing this proclamation, Sri Rasika Murari became very happy and began to chant the name of Sri Shyamananda.
As Shyamananda Prabhu journeyed from Dharenda-Bahadur-pura toward the village of Rohini, accompanied by numerous devotees, Rasikananda’s long-cherished vision came to life. From a distance, he beheld a radiant devotee approaching and instantly recognised him as Shyamananda Prabhu. The acharya’s divine effulgence was incomparable, and he appeared constantly immersed in gaura-krishna-rasa—the ecstatic love for Sri Krishna and Sri Chaitanya. Tears of divine emotion filled his eyes as he continuously chanted Krishna’s holy names on his beautiful japa-mala.
Overwhelmed with devotion, Sri Rasikananda fell to the ground, offering full prostrated obeisances. Shyamananda Prabhu warmly invited him to the royal compound, where Rasikananda reverently washed his guru’s lotus feet and worshipped him with incense and fragrant flowers. There, with complete surrender, he offered himself, his family, and his entire life at the feet of Shyamananda Prabhu. On an auspicious occasion, Shyamananda Prabhu initiated both Rasikananda and his wife into the Radha-Krishna mantra.
After receiving initiation, Rasikananda Prabhu remained close to his spiritual master, serving him with deep affection and humility. Recognising his disciple’s sincerity and devotion, Shyamananda Prabhu later entrusted him with the service of the deities at Gopijana-vallabha-pura. Accepting this sacred responsibility wholeheartedly, Rasikananda dedicated himself entirely to the worship of the Deities, whose beauty and bliss only increased through his loving service.
Having firmly established the deity worship, Rasikananda Prabhu then began spreading the teachings of Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda throughout the land. By his divine influence and preaching, countless nonbelievers and atheists became devoted followers of Gaura-Nityananda. By Sri Rasikananda’s mercy, many Mohammedans, who were actually just impious and wicked atheists, became worshipers of the Supreme Lord. Also, many virtuous kings and zamindars, such as the king of Mayurbhanj named Vaidyanatha Bhanj, the king of Patashpur known as Gajapati and Candrabhanu, the king of Moyna, took shelter at his lotus feet. What to speak of those pious and noble gentlemen, even the sinful zamindar Bhima, the Mohammedan Suba Ahmadbeg and the wicked atheist Srikar also surrendered themselves at his lotus feet. He even subdued an intoxicated elephant and initiated him with the name Gopala Dasa; two jungle tigers gave up their ferocious nature.
Once during Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha-Yatra festival, Rasikananda Deva was engaged in preaching in a distant part of the country. Upon realising it was time for Ratha-Yatra, he immediately abandoned everything and rushed with great urgency to reach Nilachala (Puri). However, by the time he arrived, the festival had already commenced.
Lord Jagannatha, feeling deep separation from His beloved devotee Rasikananda, caused His chariot to stop completely. Despite the king summoning his powerful elephants to push the Ratha forward, they could not move it even a single inch. Understanding the king’s growing frustration, Lord Jagannatha revealed to him that He was waiting for His devotee Rasika.
When Rasikananda Deva finally arrived, he brought with him numerous offerings, including silk garments and other precious gifts. He prostrated himself before Lord Jagannatha in humble obeisances. At the king’s request, Rasikananda pulled the chariot rope, and immediately the cart began moving smoothly along the road, gliding effortlessly like clouds across the sky.
Afterwards, the king offered to gift Rasikananda land to establish a temple. Rasikananda chose a place called Fultota Math, now known as Kunja Math, where he installed the Deity of Sri Bat Krishna. This Deity is presently worshipped as Sri Sri Radha-Rasika Raya.
Following the sacred order of his spiritual master, Sri Shyamananda, Rasikananda dedicated approximately sixteen years to preaching the message of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu throughout the world. After completing this mission, he entered his eternal pastimes through the lotus feet of Gopinatha at Remuna.
On the first day of the bright fortnight in the month of Phalguna, in the year Sakabda 1574 (1652 CE), Rasikananda quietly departed from the village of Santa without anyone’s knowledge and walked to Remuna. Upon arrival, he engaged in Krishna-katha with the devotees assembled there for some time and instructed everyone to serve Sri Krishna with unwavering devotion. Then, requesting them to begin sankirtana, he entered the temple of Sri Gopinatha. After reverently touching the lotus feet of Kshira-chora Gopinatha—feet that bestow complete fearlessness—he entered into Their eternal shelter.
Sri Rasikananda Prabhu’s samadhi is located at the Temple of Kshira-chora Gopinatha in Remuna. Sri Rasikananda had three sons: Sri Radhananda, Sri Krishna Govinda, and Sri Radha Krishna. Some of his descendants continue to reside in present-day Gopijana-vallabha-pura.
