Rūpa Gosvāmī was born in Fateyabad, Bengal in the late 15th century into family ofKarnataka origin. He was the younger brother of Sanātana Gosvāmī and the elder brother of Anupama. The birth names of all three brothers are unknown. The three brothers moved to Ramakeli where Sanātana and Rūpa worked in the government ofSulṭān Ḥusayn Šāh under the titles of Sākar Mallik and Dabir Khās.[3]
Sākar Mallik and Dabir Khās began a correspondence withKr̥ṣṇa Caitanya while working at the court, and when the latter was passing by Ramakeli on the way to Vrindavan the brothers rushed to meet him. The renounced their high statuses and Caitanya initiated them into asceticism under the names Sanātana Gosvāmī, Rūpa Gosvāmī, and Vallabha. On his return journey fromVraja, Caitanya ordered Sanātana and Rūpa to go to Vrindavan, study the devotional scriptures, recover lost religious sites and establish their greatness.[3]
The brothers arrived in a woody and uninhabited Vrindavan, where they set upon the task of rediscovering lost sacred sites inBraj, via studying thePuranic geography of Kr̥ṣṇa's life as well as developing their own stories.[3]
Caitanya later sent more devotees to Vrindavan, which lead to the formation of theSix Goswamis of Vrindavan, who created an extensive Sanskrit literature on Gauḍīya subjects of Kr̥ṣṇa, theology, ritual practice, grammar, and literary theory; the group was led by the two brothers.[3]
Rūpa is associated with two sites, one east ofNandīśvara and Sevākuñj in Vrindavan. He also discovered the mūrti ofGovindadeva. After his death, his possessions went to his nephew and disciple Jīva Gosvāmī (son of Anupama/Vallabha).[3]
Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (The Ocean of Nectar of Divine Love):Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu can be considered to be one of the most important books in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. It elaborately describes gradations of bhakti from its lowest stage of sraddha (faith) up to its highest stage of maha-bhava (ultimate ecstasy in love of Godhead).
Ujjvala-nilamani (The Sapphire of Divine Love): This work exclusively explains the conception of madhurya-rasa (divine conjugal love).Ujjvala-nilamani is considered to be a sequel to theBhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.
Laghu-bhagavatamrta (A Summary of Nectar about Godhead): It is a summary of Sanatana Goswami's bookBrhat-bhagavatamrta. It begins by explaining the intrinsic nature of Krishna and hisincarnations and subsequently deals with devotees of Krishna.
Vidagdhamadhava (1524) &Lalitamadhava (1529): Rupa originally began to write these two dramas as one in 1516 but he completed them as two separate plays inVikram Samvat 1581 (1524) andSaka era 1451 (1529) respectively.[4] It is said that Rupa had a vision of Satyabhama, one of Krishna's queens in Dvaraka, who told him to divide the book into two separate dramas. Thus,Lalitamadhava deals with Krishna's pastimes in Dvaraka, andVidagdhamadhava narrates Krishna's pastimes in Vrindavana.
Stavamala (The Flower Garland of Prayers): This is a compilation of short works, some of which are often published as separate books.
Danakelikaumudi (The Lotus-like Tax-collecting Pastimes) (1549): ThisBhāṇikā (one-act play) was written inSaka era 1471 (1549) and narrates thedanakeli (tax-collecting pastime) between Krishna and theGopis of Vrindavana.[4]
Sri Radha-krsna-ganoddesa-dipika (A Lamp to See the Associates of Radha-Krsna) (1550): In this book, Rupa Goswami lists the associates of Radha and Krishna and describes their characteristics.
Mathura-mahatmya (The Glories of Mathura): This book tells the glories of Mathura, in the form of a conversation betweenVaraha (the boar incarnation ofVishnu) and the Earth Goddess. Rupa Goswami explains various processes of devotional service by quoting statements from variousHindu scriptures and establishes that Mathura vanquishes all one's sinful reactions and awards piety and liberation.
Uddhava-sandesa (News of Uddhava): In this work, Rupa Goswami narrates the story from theBhagavata Purana of Krishna requesting his friendUddhava to go to Vrindavana and pacify his friends and relations by reminding them of their pastimes with him.
Hamsa-dutam (The Swan Messenger): This text tells the story how Lalita, the confident of Radha, sends a messenger in the form of a swan to Krishna inDwaraka.
Sri Krsna-janma-tithi-vidhi: This short work is a paddhati (manual on ritual worship) explaining the process of worshiping the deity of Krishna during the festival ofJanmastami, the birthday of Krishna celebrated byVaishnavas in August/September.
Nataka-candrika (The Illuminating Moon of Dramatics) This book explains the rules of Gaudiya Vaisnava dramaturgy.
Upadesamrta (The Nectar of Instruction): This short work contains eleven verses of instructions to aspirants on the path of devotion to Krishna. TheUpadesamrta was originally a part of theStavamala.
