Page 122 - Sri Vraja Riti Cintamani final

the Vaiṣṇavas as their wealth.” In this connection, we also hear the
following verse sung everywhere:

viśvasya nātha-ripo ‘sau
bhakti-vartma-pradarśanāt
bhakta-cakravarti tatvat
cakravartyākhyayābhavat

“Because he has shown the Viśva-vāsīs (residents of the material
universe) the path of bhakti, he is called ‘Viśvanātha’; and because
he is situated amongst the cakra (circle) of devotees, he is called
‘Cakravartī’.”

Śrīla Cakravartī Ṭhākura Defends Śrī Narottama’s True Position
Previously, Śrīla Narottama Ṭhākura Mahāśaya had achieved fame
as Rasika-rāja, or The King of those devotees who know how to
relish the mellows of the topmost mādhurya-rasa. And he certainty
is that. However, certain persons who are envious of Lord Hari who
are loyal servants of that energy which completely surrounds the
fallen souls with strict difficulties have dared to attempt to forcibly
throw such a wonderful, true rasika as Narottama into their own
well of material rasa. Needless to say, they have not been successful.
Being unable to understand the purely spiritual activities of Śrī
Narottama Ṭhākura, many prākṛta-sahajiyas had given him the
title “Sahajiya-kula-bhūṣaṇa” (the ornament of the family of cheap
imitators). Therefore, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura appeared
in time to check the spread of this concocted sahajiya mentality, and
to truly defend the factual spiritual rank of Śrīla Ṭhākura Mahāśaya.

Viśvanātha’s Family Lineage, Birth & Studies

Śrīla Viśvanātha took birth in a family of brāhmaṇas found in the
Rādhā-deśa area of Nadia District, West Bengal (Rādhā-śreṇīya-
vipra-kula). According to some, he also used the pen name ‘Hari-
vallabha’. He had two older brothers named Rāmabhadra and
Raghunātha, and he stayed in Deva-grāma during his childhood.

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