Around this time, a wealthy Seth underwent great austerity by walking to Badarikasrama in the Himalayas. Arriving there he reverently worshiped Sri Badrinarayana and offered much wealth at His lotus feet. That night as he slept there, he had a dream in which Sri Badarinarayana instructed him to proceed to Vraja, where he should present all his wealth to Sri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, who was residing at Aritgram. "If he declines to accept it, then you can mention My name and remind him about renovating Radha-kunda and Shyama-kunda."
The Seth was very happy at such a wonderful dream and after returning home he set out for Vraja and met Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and related all these events to him. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was somewhat taken aback to hear this news, but then immediately gave his consent. Thus Sethji began the work of re-digging the two kunds.
On the banks of Radha-kunda, the five Pandavas were residing in the form of trees. As the work was proceeding it was decided that on the following day these trees would have to be cut down, but that night the five Pandavas appeared in a dream of Raghunatha dasa and forbade the cutting of those trees. Even to this day they are still residing there.
Nearby, the kundas of the eight gopis were also constructed. Seeing all this, Raghunatha dasa forgot himself in ecstasy. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami lived on the banks of Radha-kunda without any fixed residence, staying under a different tree every night. Sometimes he would stay on the banks of the Manasa Ganga. At that time these areas were jungles filled with ferocious animals. One day Sanatana Gosvami came to the banks of Manasa Ganga to meet Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. Before accepting his noon meal at Gopal Bhatta's bhajan kutir, he went to take bath at the Pavan ghat of Manasa Ganga. From there he saw two tigers come to the kund and after drinking some water saunter off. Just near that spot Raghunatha das Gosvami was sitting under a tree absorbed in his bhajana. Sanatana Gosvami was startled to see this but even more so when he saw Sri Krishna standing at some distance observing everything. He then requested Raghunatha to do his bhajana within a hut.
On another occasion, Raghunatha dasa, who still hadn't bothered to have a kutir constructed, was sitting in the noon day sun absorbed in his bhajana. Srimati Radharani happened to pass that way at this time and, seeing that the sun was beating down on Raghunatha's head, she stood behind him and held the end of her sari to shield him from the sun’s rays. Then one of the Gosvamis came along and saw this heart-rending scene, while profuse perspiration continued to flow from Srimati Radharani's transcendental body. This time when he was again requested to do his bhajan in a kutir, he immediately agreed to comply.
In Vraja, Krishna is served by Radharani and Chandravalli, who each have unlimited maid servants. According to mellows of paramour love, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami counted himself as a maidservant of the friends of Srimati Radharani. As Chandravalli is the chief competitor of Radharani, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami would never go to her kunja or talk with any of the sakhis. Thus he served the servants of Radharani within his mind in this way.
One Brajabasi known as Sri Das Brajabasi used to bring Sri Raghunatha das Gosvami a leaf cup of buttermilk every day. Drinking this he would engage in bhajana throughout the day. One day Sri Das Brijabasi went to Chandravalli's kunda, known as Sakhi-sthali, to herd his cows. There he saw a palash tree with very large leaves, so he collected some leaves to make leaf cups. The next day, in one of the new leaf cups he brought some buttermilk to Raghunatha das Gosvami. Raghunatha dasa accepted the leaf cup of buttermilk and inquired, "Sri dasji, where did you get these nice palash leaves?" Sri dasji replied, "While I was pasturing the cows I came to Sakhi-sthali and found them there."
Simply hearing the word 'Sakhi-sthali' Raghunatha dasa flew into a rage and threw the leaf cup of buttermilk away saying, "The followers of Srimati Radharani never accept anything from that place." Seeing the loyal devotion of Raghunatha dasa for Srimati Radharani, Sridasji was amazed.
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami used to always serve Sri Sri Radha-Govinda in his mind. One day in his meditation he cooked sweet rice and offered it to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. In great pleasure they accepted the offering and the other sakhis also relished this prasadam. Then Raghunatha himself honored the remnants of their prasadam and in great ecstasy, due to the pleasure of having been able to satisfy Sri Sri Radha-Govinda and Their loving attendants, he ate a little more than was his custom.
In the afternoon Raghunatha dasa used to speak about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. However, this day when the devotees came in the afternoon to hear him speak, they found that the door to his kutir was closed. They waited for some time but when it appeared that there was no movement inside they became a little anxious and called out, "Gosvamiji, are you all right?" Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami answered, "My body is not well."
The devotees became concerned and immediately sent word to Sanatana Gosvami in Mathura. At that time Sri Sanatana Gosvami was staying with Sri Vallabhacharya's son Sri Vithalnathji, who immediately sent two physicians to Radha-kunda to examine Sri Raghunath dasa Gosvami. After checking his pulse, the doctors concluded that, "due to eating a combination of rice and milk his body is feeling very heavy."
Hearing this diagnosis everyone was struck with wonder. That Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, who subsisted on only a little buttermilk each day, should fall ill from eating too much sweet rice was astonishing, especially because it was eaten only in meditation.
There are various opinions on Sri Raghunatha das Gosvami's identity in Krishna-lila. Some have ascertained that he was Rasa Manjari, some that he was Rati Manjari, while still others that he was Bhanumoti. The Govardhana-sila given by Sriman Mahaprabhu to Raghunatha dasa to worship is still worshiped at Sri Gokulananda Mandira, in Vrindavana.
Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami compiled the following books: Stavavali, Dana charita, and Mukta charita, among others.
Birth: 1428 (Sakabda) Disappearance: 1504 on the 12th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashvin.
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