EARLY RENUNCIATION OF MATERIAL LIFE
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura took birth in the year 1638 within the Nadīyā district of West Bengal, India, in a place called Prasiddha Deva Grāma. He appeared in the Rādhiya line of brāhmaṇas. He had two brothers — Śrī Rāmabhadra Cakravartī and Śrī Raghunātha Cakravartī.
Śrīla Cakravartī Ṭhākura went on to live in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal, in Saiyadabad, where he received mantra initiation from Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caraṇa Cakravartī. He lived for a long time in the house of his Gurudeva, where he wrote many books.
When Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura lived in Nadīyā, he closely studied the scriptures, beginning with a study of Sanskrit grammar, poetry, and rhetoric. It is said that even as a boy in school, he was an undefeatable scholar who could overcome anyone in argument and debate.
From an early age, he was indifferent towards family life. For the purpose of binding his son in the contract of family life, Viśvanātha’s father arranged for his marriage when he was very young. He remained a married man for only a short time. Soon he renounced his wife and home and went to live in Vṛndāvana. After this, his parents and relatives made many unsuccessful attempts to induce him to return to family life, but Viśvanātha Cakravartī was fixed in his determination to renounce wordly life and surrender himself completely to the service of Kṛṣṇa.
THE CREST JEWEL OF VAIṢṆAVAS
After having gone to Vṛndāvana Dhāma, Śrī Viśvanātha took up his residence in the bhajana kuṭīra (hermitage) of Śrī Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī on the banks of the Rādhā-kuṇḍa lake, where there lived a disciple of Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja whose name was Mukunda dāsa. There, Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī made a careful study of the Gosvāmī’s literatures. In that holy place he later wrote many commentaries on the books of the Gosvāmīs.
He was known as “the crest jewel of the Vaiṣṇavas” because of his pure devotion, scholarship, and realized perception of Rādhā Gokulānanda’s intimate conjugal pastimes. Gauḍīyā authorities say that Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, a direct diciple of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is vāg-devāvatara (an incarnation of the god of speech). And Gauḍīyā ācāryas, especially among his direct disciples, believe that Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura is an incarnation of Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī.
Among all Gauḍīyā Vaiṣṇava ācāryas only Viśvanātha Cakravartī comes close to matching Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s profound realizations on the Absolute Truth. Viśvanātha Cakravartī’s name itself implies his position. Viśvanātha means “He who reveals the jewel of devotion to Viśvanātha (Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the universe).” Cakravartī means “he who expands the cakra (circle) of bhakti.”
Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura said, “Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura was the protector, guardian, and ācārya during the middle period (1600-1700) of the historical development of Gauḍīyā Vaiṣṇavism.” The growth of Gauḍīyā Vaiṣṇavism began with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. It was later rejuvenated by Śrīla Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda, spread by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, and broadcast all over the world by Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, the Founder-Ācārya of the worldwide Hare Kṛṣṇa movement.
In a dream Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa ordered Viśvanātha to make commentaries on the Gosvāmīs’ books. Immeditately, he started writing prolifically. Clouds would shield him from the sun whenever he sat to write. Once a torrential downpour flooded the area where Viśvanātha was writing his Bhāgavata commentaries. Miraculously, not a drop touched Viśvanātha or his Bhāgavata manuscript.
HIS UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura wrote over forty Sanskrit books on the science of pure devotion to Rādhā-Giridhārī. He also made the sweetest, most highly realized rasika ṭīkās (commentaries filled with devotional mellows) on Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā, the works of great Gauḍīyā ācāryas Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Kavi Karṇāpura, and Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura.
Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura established the worship of the deity of Śrī Gokulānanda. Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura was also sometimes known as Harivallabha dāsa. Viśvanātha’s title, “Cakravartī” was awarded to him by the devotees. Generally this title designates one who maintains (vartī) a circle (cakra) of influence. Hence Cakravartī usually means “emperor,” for the emperor’s maintains his power over a vast circle. A more devotional explanation of this title is found in the introduction to Viśvanātha’s Svapna-Vilāsāmṛta — “He who reveals the jewel of devotion to Viśvanātha, the Lord of the Universe, and thus expands the circle of bhakti is a”Cakravartī.”
The guru-paramparā from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura is, according to Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, as follows: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī (along with Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, Gopal Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī), Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura (along with Śyāmānanda Prabhu and Śrīnivasa Ācārya), Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura.
Śrī Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura ended his earthly pastimes on the auspicious Vasanta Pañcamī day in the month of Māgha (Jan-Feb). The life and teachings of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī give happiness, inspiration, and transcendental wisdom to the entire Gauḍīyā Vaiṣṇava sampradāya. His samādhi (divine tomb) is in the Rādhā Gokulānanda temple courtyard in Vṛndāvana.
