Appearing as the nephew of Shri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis, Shri Jiva Goswami displayed all the charming features of a mahapurusa (divine person). He had lotus eyes, a high nose and forehead, broad chest, long arms, and a radiant golden body.
In his boyhood he made a Deity of Krishna-Balarama. Expressing his pure devotion, he would often cry while worshiping Them. After offering clothes, chandana, flowers, ornaments, and tasty sweets to Krishna-Balarama he would take some and give Maha-Prasadam to his playmates.
From the beginning Jiva showed his kindness to other jivas (living entities). Jiva was so much attached to Krishna-Balarama that at bed time he would embrace his Deities and fall asleep. His parents thought he was only playing. But the villagers rejoiced to see Jiva’s love for Krishna-Balarama.
In school he quickly mastered Sanskrit grammar, poetry, logic, philosophy.
Shrimad Bhagavatam gave life to his life. Krishna-katha filled him with
happiness. No one dared to speak to him about anything but Krishna. He toured
Navadwipa-dhama with Shri Nityananda Prabhu, studied Sanskrit in Benares, and
then resided in Vrindavana. After humbly serving Shri Rupa Goswami by washing
his feet, preparing his manuscripts, and editing his books he received diksha.
After the disappearance of Shri Rupa and Shri Sanatana Goswamis, Shri Jiva
Goswami became the Gaudiya Sampradayacharya to guide all Vaishnavas in
Navadwipa, Vrindavana, Jagannatha Puri. Although he was the undisputed leader,
he always acted as a humble servant of all the jivas. Whenever Bengali
Vaishnavas visited Vrindavana he would lovingly receive them, arrange for
Prasadam and comfortable rooms, an even guide them on Vraja mandala parikrama.
Shri Jiva Goswami was the youngest but most prolific writer among the Goswamis. He wrote an astounding half million Sanskrit verses (about 25 books). His books prove that Shri Chaitanya’s philosophy gives the essence of Vedic wisdom and the perfection of religion.
Gopala Champu, Sat Sandarbhas, and Hari Nama-vyakarana are three of his most famous works. The Sandarbhas firmly establish the transcendental truths of Shrimad Bhagavatam. They also confirm that Lord Shri Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth (svayam bhagavan), the cause of everything and the source of all avataras. Anyone who faithfully reads these books will become a Devotee of Krishna.
In 1542, Shri Jiva Goswami established the worship Shri-Shri Radha-Damodara in Seva Kunja, Vrindavana. His samadhi stands in the Temple compound. Shri Jiva Goswami is Vilasa-manjari in Radha-Damodara’s nitya Vrindavana lila.
