PASTIMES OF GREAT ACHARAYA - 4

Sri Lokanatha Gosvami was a personal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and a great devotee of the Lord. He was a resident of a village named Talakhadi in the district of Yasohara in Bengal. Previously he lived in Kacnapada. His father’s name was Padmanabha, and his only younger brother was Pragalbha. Following the orders of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Lokanatha went to Vrndavana to live. He established a temple named Gokulananda. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura selected Lokanatha dasa Gosvami to be his spiritual master, and he was his only disciple. Because Lokanatha dasa Gosvami did not want his name mentioned in Caitanya-caritamrta, we do not often see it in this celebrated book. On the E.B.R. Railroad, the Yasohara station is located in Bangladesh. From the railway station one has to go by bus to the village of Sonakhali and from there to Khejura. From there one has to walk, or, during the rainy season, go by boat to the village of Talakhadi. In this village there are still descendants of Lokanatha Gosvami’s younger brother.
Lokanatha Gosvami's very close associate was Bhugarbha Gosvami who is also known as Prema Manjari from Krsna Lila.
Once, while staying in the forests of Vrndavana, Lokanatha Gosvami desired to worship a Deity. Understanding the mind of His exalted devotee, Lord Krsna appeared and gave Lokanatha a Deity of Himself. Lord Krsna named the Deity Radha-vinoda aa, and Lokanatha Gosvami carried Him at all times in a bag hung from his neck. The Deity is still worshipped in Jaipur, Rajasthan.


There is also a interesting pastime in initiation of Narottam Dasa Thakur. Narottam Dasa Thakur approached Lokanatha Gosvami for initiation and as Lokanatha Gosvami was not interested in initiating any disciples he declined Narottam Dasa Thakur. But in the heart of Narottam Dasa Thakur he had already accepted Lokanatha Gosvami as his spiritual master. So, everyday morning after Lokanatha Gosvami used to finish his morning natural calls like evacuation in the bushes, Narottam Dasa Thakur used to clean that place with his bare hands. After few days Lokanatha Gosvami was wondering how that place is always clean? So, one day after passing he hid in the bushes, and after some time he saw a figure come and clean the place. Lokanatha Gosvami came out from the bushes and saw Narottam Dasa Thakur. Looking at such humble, submissive, serving mood of Narottam Dasa Thakur, Lokanatha Gosvami initiated him.


In the premises of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda temple in Vrndavana we can still see the samadhi's of Lokanatha Gosvami, Narottam Dasa Thakur, and Vishvanath Cakravarti..