Raghunath's Reading List

[kd91]

I have this interest to know what books did Raghunath Das Goswami read and relish throughout his time living in Vraj especially Radhakund. It is expected that he knew by heart the works of Rupa and Sanatan and he must have treasured those works like anything. I haven't really read much Raghunath. Those who have done so can kindly provide me the info here. Did he read the Brihat Toshani? Brihat Bhagavatamrita? Sridhara's commentary? Sanatan's other works? Did he keep on reading the Bhagavatam even in his final days? Did he have love for books (whatever forms they were in then)?

[Nitaidas]

Mar 29, 2021 10:06:49 GMT -6 kd91 said:

I have this interest to know what books did Raghunath Das Goswami read and relish throughout his time living in Vraj especially Radhakund. It is expected that he knew by heart the works of Rupa and Sanatan and he must have treasured those works like anything. I haven't really read much Raghunath. Those who have done so can kindly provide me the info here. Did he read the Brihat Toshani? Brihat Bhagavatamrita? Sridhara's commentary? Sanatan's other works? Did he keep on reading the Bhagavatam even in his final days? Did he have love for books (whatever forms they were in then)?

It is hard to say what he read. We can only assume. We do know from other accounts that he read Sri Rupa's plays and was distressed by his Lalita-madhava which suggests a permanent state of viraha. Rupa is said to have written the Dana-keli-kaumudi and the Vidagdha-madhava to cheer him up.

[kd91]

Thanks Nitaiji. I have another related question. Are the manuscripts, pnuthis and all the other bookish things used or personally dealt in by the Goswamis still extant? If so, where are they? I have heard the VRI houses some of them. Any other place? Would be nice to see the stuff personally dealt in by the likes of Sanatan, Rupa and Raghunath, and Jiva...among others.

[Nitaidas]

Mar 29, 2021 17:06:01 GMT -6 kd91 said:

Thanks Nitaiji. I have another related question. Are the manuscripts, pnuthis and all the other bookish things used or personally dealt in by the Goswamis still extant? If so, where are they? I have heard the VRI houses some of them. Any other place? Would be nice to see the stuff personally dealt in by the likes of Sanatan, Rupa and Raghunath, and Jiva...among others.

I think some of the originals are in a research library in Dhaka (University of Dhaka?). I have a vague recollection of being told that by one of my co-students in grad school, Tony Stewart. And there are some, as you suggest, at the VRI, I believe. There might be some in various collections in Kolkata, as well: the Asiatic Society collection, the Sanskrit College collection, U of Calcutta manuscript collection, etc. I will let you know if I find any more specific details.

[kd91]

Thank you very much again, Nitaidasji.