SVARUPA DAMODARA GOSVAMI

Krsna lila - Lalita sakhi / Visakha sakhi

Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami was the personal secretary of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is said to have been like a second Mahaprabhu because he deeply understood the Lord's conclusions on Krsna bhakti, devotional service to Krsna. He was a great scholar as well as an expert musician. In the company of Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami at Jagannatha Puri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would taste the deepest emotions of devotional service.

Svarupa Damodara would sing for Mahaprabhu the songs of Vidyapati, Chandidasa, and Gita-Govinda, and this gave the Lord much pleasure. Svarupa Damodara could sing like a Gandharva, and he knew the scriptures like Brihaspati, the guru of the gods. No one was a greater soul than he. He was most dear to Advaita and Nityananda and the life and soul of the devotees headed by Shrivasa Thakura.

(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 4.105 and Madhya- lila 10.102-129 and 13.163-167.)