Today is the very auspicious disappearance day of Lokanath Goswami, one of the foremost associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Lokanath Goswami was born and raised in Jessore (present-day Bangladesh). His father, Padmanabha, was a close associate of Sri Advaita Acharya. From a young age, Lokanath Goswami displayed deep detachment from worldly life. When he grew older, he renounced everything and set out to join the divine mission of Mahaprabhu.

He reached Navadvipa and met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu lovingly embraced him. Lokanath Goswami had thought he would remain in Navadvipa and serve Mahaprabhu for the rest of his life. But the Lord had other plans. Mahaprabhu instructed him to go to Vrindavan to excavate the holy places, recover the lost pastime sites, and establish the sacred dham. Lokanath was hesitant to go, but relented because it was the Lord’s order. He forsook his happiness to give happiness to Mahaprabhu. 

Lokanath Goswami was the first person Mahaprabhu sent to Vrindavan. Today, much of what we see as the holy land of Vrindavan, including the temples, the tirthas, and the places of Krishna’s divine pastimes are a result of Lokanath’s sincere dedication. 

Vrindavan is the heart of Mahaprabhu, and Lokanath Goswami already had a place in that heart.

Parallels with Srila Prabhupada

We see beautiful parallels between the lives of Lokanath Goswami and Srila Prabhupada:

The First Ones: 

Just as Lokanath Goswami was the first who was sent to Vrindavan to discover the lost holy places, Srila Prabhupada was the first one to go to the West, to America, to spread those pastimes to the entire world.

Both had Minimal Personal Association

Lokanath Goswami had very little personal association with Mahaprabhu. He followed Mahaprabhu to South India, only to find that the Lord had already left. He then rushed to Vrindavan, but Mahaprabhu had already departed for Prayaga. Finally, Mahaprabhu appeared to him in a vision and instructed him to stay in Vrindavan and meditate on His Navadvipa form.
 
Similarly, Srila Prabhupada had very few direct meetings with his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, but he carried his instruction in his heart for over four decades, and then fulfilled it gloriously.

Offerings to this world:

Lokanath Goswami gave to the whole world Vrindavan Dham, His worshipable deities – Radha-Vinoda, and his glorious disciple Narottama Dasa Thakura, whose teachings form the very foundation of Gaudiya devotional practice, 

Srila Prabhupada gave the world:
Not one, but 108 temples
Not one star, but many moons in the form of his dedicated disciples whose footsteps we can follow.
Many books that will guide generations to come.

Vrindavan within and without

Lokanath Goswami remained in Vrindavan all his life, absorbed in service and bhajan.

Srila Prabhupada carried the mood of Vrindavan in his heart and gave that Vrindavan to the entire world.
He transplanted Vrindavan into people’s hearts, and brought back everyone to Vrindavan. 

The glorious parampara that we have is our greatest gift to cherish. The pearls, nuggets and diamonds of wisdom and realizations that we have obtained are a rare treasure which even Brahma and Shiva hanker for.