Shrila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami (Disappearance)

Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami (1505–1579) was a disciple of the Vaishnava saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and member of the influential Gaudiya Vaishnava group collectively known as the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan. He is regarded by followers in the Gaudiya tradition as an ideal practitioner of the Bhakti yoga system.

By the order of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami remained a lifelong brahmachari. His service was constant chanting of Hare Krishna and reading Shrimad Bhagavatam. In Jagannatha Puri, Raghunatha satisifed Lord Gauranga by his exceptional cooking and kirtana performances, which won him the title, kirtana acharya.

When he came to Vrindavana, the Vaishnavas (including Shri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis) would regularly listen to his singing of Bhagavata shlokas in four tunes as sweet as a cuckoo. His recitation was unparalleled; even Vyasadeva enjoyed it. He fulfilled Lord Chaitanya's order to preach the glories and peerless significance of the grantha-raja Shrimad Bhagavatam.

His tears of pure love for Radha-Govinda would wet the pages. Raghunatha Bhatta was so absorbed in Krishna-katha that he never heard or spoke worldly topics, what to speak of criticizing Devotees. He believed that all Vaishnavas are sincerely serving the Lord according to their realization, and therefore one should overlook their faults.

Under his inspiration, a wealthy disciple built a gorgeous Temple in Vrindavana for Shri-Shi Radha-Govindaji. Even after four-hundred and fifty years, this intricately hand-carved red stone Temple remains the most beautiful Temple in Vrindavana and all of Northern India. Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami faithfully served Govindaji for forty years.

He was a scholar in all subjects, although he didn't write any books like the other Goswamis. Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami learned everything simply by hearing shastras. Fearing that Muslims might desecrate Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami's sacred form, Shri Jiva Goswami had his body burned. The ashes were placed in two samadhis, one in Radha-kunda, another in the 64 Samadhis Area. In Radha-Govindaji's nitya-lila he serves as Rasa or Raga manjari, one of Shri Radha's asta manjaris.