# Jīva Gosvāmī > [!summary] > *Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī (c. 1513–1608) was the nephew of Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmī and the greatest philosopher among the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana. He composed at least twenty-five books establishing the philosophical conclusions of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism and became the ācārya of all Vaiṣṇavas worldwide after the disappearance of his uncles.* --- ## His Eternal Identity ![[cc/adi/10/85#purport|In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 195, it is said that Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī was formerly Vilāsa-mañjarī gopī.]] --- ## Early Life and Education ![[cc/adi/10/85#purport|From his very childhood Jīva Gosvāmī was greatly fond of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam...he went to Vṛndāvana and took shelter of his uncles]] **Key points:** - From childhood, deeply attached to *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* - Studied Sanskrit in Navadvīpa - Circumambulated Navadvīpa-dhāma following Nityānanda Prabhu - Studied under Madhusūdana Vācaspati in Benares - Took shelter of Rūpa and Sanātana in Vṛndāvana --- ## Literary Contributions ![[cc/antya/4/229|Ṣaṭ-sandarbha, which is the essence of all scriptures]] Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī composed and edited **at least twenty-five books**: ### Philosophical Works 1. **Ṣaṭ-sandarbha** (Six Sandarbhas) — The philosophical foundation of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism: - *Tattva-sandarbha* — On evidence and epistemology - *Bhagavat-sandarbha* — On the Supreme Lord - *Paramātma-sandarbha* — On the Supersoul - *Kṛṣṇa-sandarbha* — On Lord Kṛṣṇa - *Bhakti-sandarbha* — On devotional service - *Prīti-sandarbha* — On divine love ### Commentaries - Commentary on *Brahma-saṁhitā* - Commentary on *Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu* - Commentary on *Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi* - *Gopāla-tāpanī-ṭīkā* - *Laghu-toṣaṇī* — Commentary on Tenth Canto ### Literary Works - *Gopāla-campū* (two parts) - *Śrī Mādhava-mahotsava* - *Śrī Saṅkalpa-kalpavṛkṣa* ### Grammar - **Hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa** — A Sanskrit grammar teaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness through every example --- ## Leadership of the Gauḍīya Sampradāya ![[cc/adi/10/85#purport|After the disappearance of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī in Vṛndāvana, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī became the ācārya of all the Vaiṣṇavas in Bengal, Orissa and the rest of the world]] - Established the **Rādhā-Dāmodara temple** in Vṛndāvana - Guided the compilation of *Caitanya-caritāmṛta* by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī - Inspired **Śrīnivāsa Ācārya**, **Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura** and **Duḥkhī Kṛṣṇadāsa** to preach in Bengal - Provided residence and prasāda to all Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas visiting Vṛndāvana --- ## Defending the Ācāryas One of the most instructive pastimes of Jīva Gosvāmī teaches an essential principle: ![[cc/adi/10/85#purport|humility and meekness are appropriate when one's own honor is insulted but not when Lord Viṣṇu or the ācāryas are blasphemed...one must take proper steps to counteract such blasphemy]] When a proud scholar obtained false "certificates of defeat" from the humble Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs, Jīva Gosvāmī refused to allow this dishonesty. He debated and defeated the scholar. > **The principle:** One should tolerate insults against oneself, but must act to defend the honor of the guru and Vaiṣṇavas. --- ## Philosophical Expertise ![[cc/adi/7/102#purport]] Jīva Gosvāmī's philosophical conclusions are referenced throughout Śrīla Prabhupāda's books on topics including: - The nature of the Absolute Truth - The position of the living entity - The process of devotional service - The goal of love of Godhead --- ## Connection to Śrīla Prabhupāda ![[cc/adi/10/85#purport|In Vṛndāvana he established the Rādhā-Dāmodara temple, where we had the opportunity to live and retire until the age of sixty-five, when we decided to come to the United States of America]] Śrīla Prabhupāda lived at Jīva Gosvāmī's Rādhā-Dāmodara temple from 1962-1965, writing his early translations of *Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam* in the rooms adjacent to Jīva Gosvāmī's samādhi. --- ## From the Index **Main entries:** - [[index/entries/jiva-gosvami|Jīva Gosvāmī]] — Biography and references - [[index/entries/jiva-gosvami-cited|Jīva Gosvāmī cited]] — His philosophical statements - [[index/entries/jiva-gosvami-quoted|Jīva Gosvāmī quoted]] — Direct quotations **Key references:** - Biography: [[cc/adi/10/85|Ādi 10.85]], [[cc/antya/4/227|Antya 4.227-236]] - Books by: [[cc/madhya/1/42|Madhya 1.42-44]] - Rādhā-Dāmodara temple: [[cc/adi/1/19|Ādi 1.19]] - Philosophical expertise: [[cc/adi/7/102|Ādi 7.102]] --- ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/the-six-gosvamis-of-vrindavana|The Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana]] - [[wiki/articles/the-disciplic-succession|The Disciplic Succession]] - [[wiki/articles/rupa-gosvami|Rūpa Gosvāmī]] — His uncle and guru - [[wiki/articles/sanatana-gosvami|Sanātana Gosvāmī]] — His uncle - [[wiki/articles/lord-caitanya-mahaprabhu|Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu]] — Who empowered his uncles - [[index/entries/vrndavana|Vṛndāvana]] — Where he resided --- ## From the Scriptures - [[cc/adi/10|Ādi-līlā, Chapter 10]] — The Caitanya Tree - [[cc/antya/4|Antya-līlā, Chapter 4]] — Extended biography - [[cc/madhya/1|Madhya-līlā, Chapter 1]] — List of his books