Srila Jiva Gosvami’s Extraordinary Merit  

A lecture given by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami on the occasion of

Srila Jiva Gosvami’s appearance on 8 September 1992 in Bhubaneswar, India.

 

Appearing as the nephew of Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis, Srila Jiva Gosvami  displayed all the charming features of a maha-purusa (divine person). He had lotus eyes, a high nose and forehead, broad chest, long arms, and a radiant golden body.

Srila Jiva Gosvami was the direct disciple of Srila Rupa Gosvami and he was the very humble and obedient servant of both Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis. He was so very intelligent that he would edit their books.

One very wonderful lecture by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami was actually given (and captured on video and tape) on the appearance day of Srila Jiva Gosvami whereas we observe today his disappearance. However, the appearance and the disappearance are one and the same for true Vaisnavas. Srila Sanatana Gosvami has quoted in his Hari-bhakti-vilasa this verse from the Padma Purana:

na karma-bandhanam janma vaisnavanam ca vidyate

visnur anucaratvam hi moksam ahur manisinah

 

“A Vaisnava does not take birth under the jurisdiction of karmic law. His birth and disappearance are transcendental. The wise have declared that the servants of Visnu are eternally engaged in the liberated service of the Lord and hence are free from the laws of material nature.” (Padma Purana, quoted in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 10.113)

Srila Jiva Gosvami was the youngest but most prolific writer among the Gosvamis. He wrote an astounding half million Sanskrit verses (about 25 books). When Srila Jiva Gosvami left this world many said that no one like him would ever appear on the planet again.

 

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If the video below does not play you can watch it here: https://is.gd/lRuyUH