Genealogy His family lineage can be traced to
Indian State of
Karnataka and
Naihati in the district of
North 24 Parganas in present-day
West Bengal,
India. The former generations according to
Bhakti-ratnakara: Sarvajna Jagatguru was a known
brahmana, scholar in all
Vedas, respected
Yajur-vedi of the Baradvaja caste, and king of
Karnataka in
South India, adored by all other contemporary kings. Sarvajna's son, Aniruddha, was spirited, famous, a proficient scholar of the Vedas, and a favorite of the reigning kings at the time. Aniruddha's sons, Rupesvara (eldest) and Harihara, were respected due to their virtuous qualities. Rupesvara was known as a scholar of the scriptures, while Harihara became a master in the art and science of weapons. Both brothers inherited the administration of the state after their father died, but Harihara soon snatched all the power, causing Rupesvara and his wife to travel to Paulastha-desa, where Sikharesvara befriended him and convinced him to settle there. Rupesvara's son, Padmanabha learned the four Vedas making him famous. He had impeccable character and was absorbed in love of
Jagannatha. He left Sikharabhumi and settled on the bank of the
Ganges in the village Navahatta (present-day
Naihati,
West Bengal,
India), where he had eighteen daughters and five sons. His five sons were Purusottama (eldest), Jagannatha, Narayana, Murari, and Mukunda (youngest), where Purusottama and Mukunda were the best in experience and character. Mukunda's son, Kumara, was a brahmana and virtuous. He privately engaged in oblations and purificatory penances. Becoming disturbed by family difficulties, he left the village Navahatta with his followers and settled in the village
Bakla Chandradvipa in
East Bengal (now
Bangladesh). He built a house in the village
Fateyabad in
Jessore for the convenience of communications with devotees and traveling
Vaishnavas. Among Kumara's many sons, Sanatana (eldest),
Rupa (middle), and Vallabha (youngest) were the life of the Vaishnava community and great devotees, all three becoming known for their academic capacities and devotion, and eventually settling in the village Ramakeli in
Gauda (present-day
Maldah,
West Bengal). The brothers were inspired by
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who lived in
Nadia (a district of present-day
West Bengal,
India) at the time. Sanatana and Rupa resigned from their ministerial (royal) posts and retired to help Chaitanya in his mission, eventually relocating to
Vrindavana. Vallabha, who was happy in service, was initiated by Chaitanya and given the name Anupama, and was known for his stoicism and neutrality in his detachment from worldly affairs. Alternatively, it is said that his ancestors migrated from
Karnataka to
Gauda and lived in the village Ramkeli, near
Gauda for generations.
Birth Sanatana was born around 1488 CE as the son of Mukunda, the private secretary of the Sultan of
Gauda,
Jalaluddin Fateh Shah (ruled 1481–1487). Sanatana was the eldest son of Mukunda, and his younger brothers were
Rupa and Vallabha (Anupama). Gaudia Vaishnavism scholar
Bhaktivinoda Thakur and historian
Satishchandra Mitra assert Sanatan was born in
Jessore,
East Bengal (now Bangladesh). Others opine that he was born in
Navahatta (present-day
Naihati,
West Bengal,
India) while others believe that he was born in
Bakla Chandradvipa or in
Fateyabad Pargana, Some biographers believe that he was born in Ramakeli in the district of
Maldah,
West Bengal.
Early life Sanatana and his brothers studied
Nyaya (rhetoric) and
Vedanta from the logician Vasudeva Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. They also studied under Sarvabhauma's brother, Madhusudana Vidyavacaspati, from whom Sanatana took initiation in his childhood. On the death of his father, Sanatana was forced to take up the post of Sakara Mallik (treasurer) to the new ruler of Bengal,
Alauddin Hussein Shah (ruled 1493–1519), while his brother Rupa was given the post of Dabir-i-khas (private secretary).
First meeting with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Sanatana and his brothers were residents of Ramakeli (in present-day
Maldah,
West Bengal) and it was here, in 1514 CE, that they met
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for the first time beneath kadamba and tamäl trees when Mahaprabhu was travelling through
Gauda on his way to
Vrindavan. The meeting changed their lives. After meeting them, Chaitanya gave them the names Rupa, Sanatana and Anupama. Sanatana advised Mahaprabhu, As a result of this advice, Mahaprabhu put off going to
Vrindavan and turned back after going a little further, as far as Kanair Natshala. Due to this meeting, the brothers decided to renounce the world and join Chaitanya and his entourage. Rupa resigned from his post, but Sanatana's resignation was refused by the Sultan. Sanatana stopped coming to court and feigned sickness. But when the Sultan sent his personal physicians to treat Sanatana they returned and reported that Sanatana was in perfectly good health. The Sultan personally visited Sanatana and tried to convince him to continue to render his governmental duties and accompany him on a military campaign against the neighbouring state of
Odisha. Upon Sanatana's refusal, Hussein Shah had him thrown into
prison. While in prison, Sanatana received a letter from his brother Rupa telling him that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had left
Puri to go to
Vrindavan and that Rupa and Anupama had decided to meet him there. Sanatana managed to bribe the jailer with money Rupa had sent him for emergencies. Sanatana then crossed the
Ganges River and made his way towards Vrindavan.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Varanasi As Sanatana made his way to
Vrindavan he learned that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had already left Vrindavan and was then residing in
Varanasi. There Sanatana met Chaitanya, who imparted to him instructions pertaining to
sambandha-jnana (knowledge of the self and one's relationship with God). Chaitanya taught that the constitutional identity of each soul is to be an eternal servant of God. Chaitanya explained his teachings to Sanatana by summarizing them in three categories:
sambandha (one's relationship with Godhead),
abhidheya (the method for reviving that relationship), and
prayojana (the ultimate attainment of the supreme goal of life). After instructing Sanatana in the sambandha aspect of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology, Chaitanya instructed him to go to Vrindavan, where Sanatana visited the sites connected to Krishna's pastimes. When Sanatana later went to
Puri and met Chaitanya once more, Chaitanya gave him four direct instructions: • To write books teaching
Bhakti yoga, the process of devotion to
Krishna • To discover and excavate the places in Vrindavan where Krishna had his pastimes • To establish the service of the
deity (
murthis) of Krishna in Vrindavan • To compile a book establishing the proper behavior for devotees of Krishna in order to create the foundations of a Vaishnava society.
Vrindavan Sanatana Goswami returned to
Vrindavan, where he located various lost holy places. He also established the worship of the deity of Madana-mohana. Soon after Sanatana discovered the deity, a rich officer in the
Moghul army named Krishna Dasa Kapura built a temple for Madana-mohan. This later became one of the seven principal temples of Vrindavan. The temple is called
Radha Madan Mohan Temple. Sanatana Goswami disappeared in the year 1558 CE. His
samādhi (tomb) is located next to the Madana-mohana temple. In Gaudiya Vaishnava theology, Sanatana Goswami is considered to be the incarnation of Rati Manjari or Lavanga Manjari. ==Works==