Sri Ramray prabhu (Descendants of Jayadeva Goswami)

Meaning: Born in the Saraswat Brahmin lineage, Shri Ramray Ji developed deep love for God. His mind was always immersed in knowledge, renunciation, and devotion. He had completely renounced worldly faults such as lust, anger, ego, greed, attachment, and envy. He was constantly absorbed in listening to and narrating the stories of the Lord, and he would be absorbed in blissful ecstasy while doing so. Seeing saints brought joy to his heart, just as a lotus blossoms in the sunlight. Those wicked people who bore enmity toward him or tried to humiliate him were themselves humbled—their turbans would fall to the ground, meaning they had to experience their own downfall. (167)

Bhaktatoshini Commentary: Regarding feelings of enmity—whenever a wicked person harbored ill will toward Shri Ramray Ji, he would not retaliate or even speak. Instead, the Supreme Lord Himself would punish them. The wicked would receive a slap, their turban would fall to the ground, yet no one was visibly present to administer it. When the person asked Shri Ramray Ji for forgiveness, the punishment would cease. Once, Ibrahim Lodi saw a gathering of Naga saints near Shri Ramray Ji and said, “Why have you gathered these Nagas? If they are plotting rebellion, disperse them, or else they will be imprisoned.” Upon saying this, suddenly someone struck him with a slap, and his cap fell to the ground. No one was visible who did this. Amazed by the miracle, he said, “Grant me your permission to serve. I will build a house for you.” Shri Ramray Ji replied, “Do not ever trouble any saint again; trees and creepers are sufficient for us. Do not summon us here again.”

Special Character: Shri Ramray Prabhu was born on the banks of the Ravi River in Lahore (Punjab) in V.S. 1540, on the 11th day of Vaishakh Shukla at noon. His father was Shri Gurugopal Ji, and his mother was Shriyashomati Ji. In their traditional household, the Thakur Shri Radha Madhav Ji, worshipped by Shri Jayadev Ji, appeared in a dream to Shri Gurugopal Ji and said, “Let my sacred footwater (Padodak) be given to your wife; a great, miraculous devotee-son will be born from her.” After partaking of the Padodak, Yashomati Ji felt as if a special divine power had entered her, fulfilling her spiritually. Some sources mention that he was born during a pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. Hence he received the names Rameshwar, Ramray, Ramdas, and Ramgopal. At the age of eleven, he received the sacred thread (Yajñopavīt) ceremony. His father taught him the Gayatri mantra along with the Shri Radha-Radha Gopal mantra, which Shri Jayadev Ji had received from Shri Krishna while residing on the banks of the Yamuna in Vrindavan. Ten years after Shri Ramray Ji’s birth, Shri Ramchandra Gopal Ji was born. People regard him as an incarnation of Chitrāsakhi. Shri Ramray Ji was born on V.S. 1552, Basant Panchami.

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On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Shri Jayadevji, without arranging any prior resources, he fed a thousand Brahmins, and thus his glory became renowned everywhere. Thakur Shri Radha-Madhavji instructed him: “You go to Vrindavan; afterwards, I will come with Chandragopal.” Obeying this order, he reached Haridwar with the power of yoga. There, he met his maternal grandfather’s elder, Shri Asudhiraaji, and brought him along to Vrindavan as well.

On the way, in Upbrij (Aligarh), there was a Brahmin saint named Prasadi serving others. They rested at his place. Seeing his humility, Shri Ramrayji removed his ring and gave it to him, blessing him: “May you be richly blessed with wealth and engage in the devotion of Shri Radha-Madhav.” In time, having become prosperous, he began serving and worshiping Shri Radha-Madhav. He guided Shri Asudhiraaji throughout the entire Braj pilgrimage. Serving the residents of Braj and the Brahmins wholeheartedly, people began calling him ‘Prabhu’.

One day, Shri Ramrayji expressed the desire to reside in Vrindavan. People advised against it, warning that wild animals lived there. Nevertheless, one day, leaving everyone asleep, he went to Vrindavan. On the banks of the Yamuna, amidst the gentle breeze, he had a divine vision of Shri Radha-Madhavji. Shri Thakur instructed him to first visit the holy places and then reside there. While undertaking this pilgrimage, he reached Kashi, where the scholars, impressed by him, organized a grand procession. In it were great personalities such as Shri Madhavendra Puri, Rajeshwar Tirtha, Prakashanand Saraswati, Shri Vallabhacharya, Shri Gokulananda, Vidya Sagar, Govind Kavi, Ranganath, and Vishwanath, among others.

Out of jealousy, those who attempted to defeat him in scholarly debates were vanquished, and devotion was firmly established. He distributed prasada to thousands, satisfying them all. Shri Nityananda Mahaprabhu, pleased, was drawn towards him. Shri Madhavendra Puriji advised Shri Ramrayji: “These are Sankarshan Bhagavan; take initiation from them. Accept their spiritual guidance.” Even after becoming an acharya, he accepted their authority. Seeing his exceptional humility, Shri Vallabhacharyaji was very pleased.

After this, Shri Ramrayji went to Navadwip with Shri Nityanandaji and had the darshan of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He recited Ashtapadis to Him. Pleased, Shri Chaitanyamahaprabhu said: “You are the embodiment of Ramabhadra. I will come to meet you in Vrindavan. Take Bhugarbha and Loknath with you.” Shri Ramrayji came to Vrindavan after having the darshan of Shri Jagannath Bhagavan. Shri Madhavendra Puriji, upon arriving at Govardhan in 1560, manifested Shri Nathji. When Shri Madhavendra Puri went to Odisha to collect sandalwood, Shri Ramrayji was entrusted with the service of Shri Nathji.

He began organizing many festivals. After a few days, two…

He engaged the Bengali Vaishnavas in the service of Shri Nathji. After that, he went to Jagannath Puri. The Bengali Vaishnavas continued to perform the service independently. In Jagannath Puri, he met some devotees from Lahore; after showing them the holy places like Vrindavan, he sent them back to Lahore.

Meanwhile, due to the separation from their son, Shri Gurugopal and Shriyashomati passed away and attained the supreme abode. Knowing this, Shri Ramrayji appeared in a dream to Chandragopalji, instructing him to bring Shri Radha-Madhavji to Vrindavan along with his wife. They came and stayed at the sacred place of Vanshivat. Seeing Shri Radha-Madhavji, Shri Ramrayji was overwhelmed with divine joy. Embracing the deity to his chest, Thakurji commanded him: “Let the nectar of Vrindavan’s divine rasa flow through your speech — your words will be called Adivani (the Original Divine Utterance).”

The Adivani Episode:

A Braj Gopi was once sleeping in her home. Shri Krishna came but had to leave because she was asleep. Therefore, she began to curse her own sleep and wanted to sell it away. Another Gopi came as a buyer and said, “I too was asleep. In my dream, my beloved Shyamasundar came to me. I went to meet Him, but in the meantime, my sleep broke. I lost Him by waking, and you lost Him by sleeping.” Immersed in the mood of the Gopis, Shri Ramrayji sang in Adivani:

> ‘Nindariya sānche viṣ kī bhari,

Mere lālan pyāre phir gaye kaisi khoṭi gharī.

Ab jīūn kā vidhi sunu sajni kahā̃ gaī jīvan jarī.

Dekhi kahū̃ jo milai bulāvũ barasat āṅkhin jharī.

“Rāmarāy” yā nīndahin becū̃ hau tau bhai bāvarī.’

(“This sleep is filled with true poison — my beloved has gone away!

Oh friend, tell me, how shall I live now? My life burns away.

If I see Him, I will call out, my eyes pouring streams of tears.

‘Ramray’ says — if I sell this sleep, I have indeed gone mad.”)

In another Adivani verse, beloved Shyamasundar, upon beholding the lotus face of Shri Radharani, says:

> ‘Tero mukh piyūṣ pank pyārī pragate tāmẽ dvai indīvar,

Mero man matt madhup so jāi basyo putrī hvai tin antar.

Ras lobhī ek sau anek bhayo tauhū na tṛpati mānat ras kandar.

“Shrī Rāmarāy” puni kapol dal til banyau mastak syām vindīvar.’

(“Your sweet face, O beloved, is a lotus of nectar where two blue lotuses — your eyes — bloom.

My mind, like a mad bee, enters those lotuses and remains hidden there as their very essence.

Though one, I became many out of greed for rasa, yet my thirst remains unsatisfied.

‘Shri Ramray’ says — the dark blue spot on your cheek is nothing but my mark,

for I, the blue lotus, rest there.”)

Later, Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavan and stayed at Akrura Ghat. Shri Ramrayji would daily please Him by reciting Geet Govind. Mahaprabhu expressed His desire to see Shri Gopalji, but He did not wish to step upon the sacred Govardhan Hill. At that very time, due to fear of Muslim attacks, the Vaishnavas had taken Shri Nathji down to Gatholi. Thus, Mahaprabhu was able to have darshan there. In this way, Shri Ramrayji enjoyed the divine company of Mahaprabhu in Braj.

It is written in the Barah Vaishnav Varta that, for certain reasons, Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhu came there upon hearing of the manifestation of Shri Gopalji. Having already known each other from before, he stayed with Shri Ramrayji. Shri Ramrayji then entrusted the service of Shri Nathji, along with all the offerings and possessions contributed by the Brajvasis, to Shri Vallabhacharyaji. Vallabhacharya had a temple constructed and arranged for the special system of worship and offerings (bhog-rāga-seva).

However, Shri Ramrayji did not remove the Bengali Vaishnavas from their service. In that dispute, he supported the Vallabh lineage (Vallabhkul), which caused the Bengali Vaishnavas to grow displeased with him.

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In Gaudiya literature, very little discussion has taken place about him. However, Shri Jiva Goswami, being detached from worldly affairs, has offered homage to Shri Ramrayji in the mangalacharan (invocatory verse) of his Sandarbha as follows:

> “Vande śrī-paramānandaṁ bhaṭṭācārya-sukhālayam ।

Rāmarāyaṁ tathā vāṇī-vilāsaṁ copadeśakam ॥”

“I bow to Shri Paramānanda Bhattacharya, the abode of bliss, and also to Shri Ramray, the master of eloquent speech and divine instruction.”

Once, Shri Ramrayji went to have darshan of Gokul. After visiting Shri Gokulnathji, he met Vitthalanathji (the son of Shri Vallabhacharya). Vitthalanathji greatly praised him. Hearing this praise, Shri Ramrayji humbly replied:

“If an Arabian horse walks with a Turkish gait, people do not especially praise it; but if a mule walks with a Turkish gait, everyone gathers to see it and praises it. Similarly, if a swan’s grace appears in a crow, then it is considered extraordinary.”

Hearing this, Gosainji (Vitthalanathji) was very pleased.

In his final years, Shri Ramrayji withdrew from public life and lived in seclusion at Vanshivat and in the nearby forests, absorbed in bhajan and meditation. During this time, he composed the Gauravinodini Vritti — a commentary on the Brahmasutra. His younger brother, Shri Chandragopalji, later wrote a detailed Bhashya (treatise) on that Vritti.

Shri Ramrayji authored twelve Sanskrit works. Among his writings, Adivani and the Padavali (verses) on Shri Gita Govinda are especially well-known in the vernacular.

Thus, his divine life continued until Vikram Samvat 1540 (≈1483 CE).

He had twelve principal disciples. In the Bhaktamal commentary, a kavitt (poetic verse) describes them as follows:

> “Bhakti Bhagwandas, Gyan ko Garibdas,

Banko Vairagya Vishnudas ko dikhano hai।

Jog ko Jugaldas, antar-gati Radha-nath,

Kaam ko Kishor, krodh Keshav ko mano hai।।

Mad ko Manohar, lobh Lakhadas, moh Madhu,

Matsar Haridas, tyag Teerath pichhano hai।

Katha-tattva Bhagavat, kirtan-sukh Ramray

Yaa vidhi son barah guru sang lapatano hai।।”

Translation:

Bhakti is embodied in Bhagwandas, knowledge in Garibdas,

Vairagya (renunciation) shines through Vishnudas.

Yoga resides in Jugaldas, inner realization in Radhanath,

Desire is conquered by Kishor, and anger by Keshav.

Pride is overcome by Manohar, greed by Lakhadas,

Delusion by Madhu, envy by Haridas, and renunciation by Teerath.

Absorbed in the bliss of Bhagavat-katha and kirtan,

Shri Ramray remains ever surrounded by these twelve foremost disciples.

Shri Rayaram Prabhu was the first disciple of Shri Nityananda Prabhu and the first ācārya (spiritual preceptor) of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. He was the first Gaudiya Vaishnava to arrive in Vraja (Vrindavan region). Rayaram Prabhu was a descendant of the poet Shri Jayadeva Goswami, and his younger brother’s name was Chandra Gopal.

Rayaram Prabhu performed bhajan (devotional meditation) on the banks of the Yamuna at Dhira Samira and authored twelve sacred works, including Ādi Vāṇī, a commentary on Gīta Govinda in the form of a Padāvali Bhāṣya, and several other texts.

Chandra Gopal’s son was Radhika Nath Goswami.

He received initiation (diksha) and spiritual education in the Vaishnava faith from Rayaram Prabhu himself. Radhika Nath Goswami completed the unfinished works of his father Chandra Gopal, such as the Ādi Vāṇī and the Tīkā (commentary) on Gaur Gauriya Mahāvānī. He also wrote in Braj language important works like Rādhāras Sudhānidhi Tīkā, Rasabindu, Prema Samput, and Sevā Pranālī.

Rayaram Prabhu had twelve prominent disciples, each of whom contributed significant works to Gaudiya literature:

1. Bhagwan Das Ji — composed Kirtan Padavali, in which he often wrote “Bhagwan Hit Rayaram Prabhu.”

2. Garib Das Ji — wrote three works: Singār Shatak, Ānand Shatak, and Vrindavan Shatak.

3. Vishnu Das Ji — authored Vairāgya Vijñān and Krishna Līlā.

4. Yugal Das Ji — wrote Bhakti Yoga and Kālpa Vallī.

5. Radhika Nath Ji — authored three treatises.

6. Kishor Das Ji — wrote Kām Kalevar.

7. Keshav Das Ji — wrote six works: Guru Pranālī, Vaishnav Bhet, Bhakti Vardhanī, Lok Dīpikā, Krodh Krūratā, and Tattva Trayī.

8. Manohar Das Ji — wrote Rasik Vans and Ganga Yamuna Stuti.

9. Lakha Das Ji — authored Tyāg Tarang, Utsav Vilās, Āchārya Chālīsā, and Sevā Sukh.

10. Madhusudan Das Ji — composed Shri Krishna Līlā, Swarup Parichay, Bhakti Vitān, and Kartavya Nirṇay.

11. Haridas Patel — wrote many devotional songs in the Gujarati language.

12. Tirtharam Joshi Ji — wrote Gita Rahasya, Yamuna Stavarāj, and Braj Bhāva Mādhurī, among others.

Jai gour gadadhar!