Essential Instructions to the Goswamis

[Madhya-Lila 23.103-23.105 / Antya-Lila 1.217-1.220 / 4.79-4.83]

After instructing Rupa and Santana Goswamis, Shri Chaitanya sent them both to Vrindavana (although He would later instruct them again in Jagannatha Puri). Their service was to lay secure foundations for the sankirtan movement. Rupa Goswami is specifically glorified in this regard: “When will Shrila Rupa Goswami Prabhupada, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfil the desire of Lord Chaitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?” The Goswamis were given specific instructions to achieve this task:

Holy Places – To rediscover and excavate the sacred locations of Krishna’s pastimes, and to establish Vrindavana as a holy town where pilgrims could meet saintly people and draw spiritual inspiration.

Deity Worship & Temples – To establish temples, install deities, and document appropriate standards of daily worship.

Literature – To write canonical literature which outlines essential Vedic conclusions and promotes the supremacy of pure, spontaneous bhakti, free from external formality and ritual.

Vaishnava Culture – To elucidate and exemplify Vaishnava character, culture and etiquette, and to demonstrate the proper behaviour and standards for renunciants.

Thus commissioned by Shri Chaitanya, Rupa and Sanatana took up residence in Vrindavana. They lived as ideal renunciants, sleeping under a different tree every night and adhering strictly to their vows of renunciation. Absorbed in hearing, singing and writing about Krishna, they renounced all forms of material enjoyment and minimised bodily demands to the bare minimum. Their spotless character, devoid of any pride or envy, endeared them to everyone who had the good fortune of their company. All the residents of Vrindavana were conquered by their profound devotion, humility and concern for all.

The Six Goswamis lived as ideal renunciants, sleeping under a different tree every night, and adhering strictly to their vows of renunciation. Absorbed in hearing, singing and writing about Krishna, they renounced all forms of material enjoyment and minimised bodily demands to the bare minimum.

By the time they left this world, the Goswamis had fulfilled all the instructions given to them. They had restored the holy sites, erected ornate temples which attracted people from all over India, scribed over 200 different scriptural works, and established the standards of culture through their shining personal example. When Shrila Prabhupada came to the Western world and founded ISKCON, he followed the same guidelines to structure his missionary movement.

Shri Chaitanya repeatedly outlined indispensable elements which ensure the vibrancy of a spiritual movement. In many ways, a movement can be likened to a car:

• Spiritual Inspiration (fuel) – just as cars need juice, the impetus for a movement comes from the vibrancy of its spirituality. Only when members are inspired, nourished and happy, can the movement push forward and impact the world. To give life, one must first be alive.

• Organisation & Structure (machinery) – if mechanics are suspect, the car will regularly breakdown; lots of frustration and very little progress. Similarly, a movement can effectively progress forward when proper systems are in place to channel, focus and sustain the momentum. Even spirit needs to be managed.

• Culture & Ethos (steering) – cars need navigation through the urban landscape. Inattentive steering will damage the car, injure the passengers and wreak havoc for onlookers. Similarly, only when a movement is grounded in the culture of respect and saintliness, can we pass through inevitable conflicts, issues and obstacles without inflicting permanent damage.

Fuel, machinery and steering: all three are essential to reach top speed.