Venkatta Bhatta
Encyclopedia
Venkatta Bhatta - Gaudiya Vaishnava (formerly principal priest of Srirangam
belonging to Sri Sampradaya
) is famous for being part of the conversion from worship of Laksmi-Narayana
to worship of Krishna
as Svayam bhagavan
. In Chaitanya Charitamrita
2.9.108-124 and further on Chaitanya talks about Krishnas supremacy in a joking mood with Venkatta Bhatta. Also notable for being the father of Gopala Bhatta.
When Chaitanya traveled through South India
in 1509-10, he stayed at his house of at Srirangam
. Venkata and his two brothers, Gopala's uncles Trimalla and Prabodhananda Sarasvati
"were converted from their Sri Vaishnava faith in Lakshmi
-Narayana
as supreme to one in Radha
Krishna
" as original, Svayam bhagavan
. The dialog of this conversion is recorded in 16 c. Caitanya Caritamrita biography by Krishna dasa Kaviraja.
In Madhya lila
of Caitanya caritamrita a presentation is given, with a reference to the particular verse of the tenth canto of Bhagavata Purana
as to the reason why Lakshmi
, also known as Sri
(thus the name of Sri Sampradaya), is burning with desire and still not capable of entering into the realm of Vrindavana.
Prabodhananda Sarasvati who was a Sri Sampradaya sannyasi was also converted as to supreme position of Radha-Krishna being Svayam bhagavan instead of Lakshmi-Narayana. He as well apparently came to appreciate the supremacy of Radha worship from Caitanya.
Srirangam
Srirangam , Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil name is Thiruvarangam , is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli , in South India....
belonging to Sri Sampradaya
Sri Sampradaya
Sri Sampradaya or Sri Vaishnavism is a Vaishnava sect within Hinduism. Its origin and codification is generally traced back to Sri, Mahalakshmi eternal consort of Lord Vishnu. Around the 10th century when a collection of the devotional hymns and songs by Alvars was organized by Sri Nathamuni, who...
) is famous for being part of the conversion from worship of Laksmi-Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
to worship of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
as Svayam bhagavan
Svayam Bhagavan
Svayam Bhagavan , "The Lord" or Lord Himself, is a Sanskrit theological term. The term refers to the concept of absolute representation of the monotheistic God as Bhagavan within Hinduism....
. In Chaitanya Charitamrita
Chaitanya Charitamrita
The Chaitanya Charitamrita is one of the primary biographies detailing the life and teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu , a Vaisnava saint and founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. It was written by Krishna Das Kaviraja , primarily in the Bengali language, but also including a great number of...
2.9.108-124 and further on Chaitanya talks about Krishnas supremacy in a joking mood with Venkatta Bhatta. Also notable for being the father of Gopala Bhatta.
When Chaitanya traveled through South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
in 1509-10, he stayed at his house of at Srirangam
Srirangam
Srirangam , Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil name is Thiruvarangam , is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli , in South India....
. Venkata and his two brothers, Gopala's uncles Trimalla and Prabodhananda Sarasvati
Prabodhananda Sarasvati
Prabhodananda Sarasvati- one of the legendary Gaudiya Vaishnava and Pustimarga tradition sannyasis.Originally from Srirangam of Sri Sampradaya tradition, converted to the path of devotion to Radha Krishna by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When Chaitanya traveled through South India in 1509-10, he stayed at...
"were converted from their Sri Vaishnava faith in Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
-Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
as supreme to one in Radha
Radha
Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...
Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
" as original, Svayam bhagavan
Svayam Bhagavan
Svayam Bhagavan , "The Lord" or Lord Himself, is a Sanskrit theological term. The term refers to the concept of absolute representation of the monotheistic God as Bhagavan within Hinduism....
. The dialog of this conversion is recorded in 16 c. Caitanya Caritamrita biography by Krishna dasa Kaviraja.
In Madhya lila
Lila
Lila , or Leela is a concept within Hinduism literally meaning "pastime", "sport" or "play". It is common to both non-dualistic and dualistic philosophical schools, but has a markedly different significance in each. Within non-dualism, Lila is a way of describing all reality, including the cosmos,...
of Caitanya caritamrita a presentation is given, with a reference to the particular verse of the tenth canto of Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
as to the reason why Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
, also known as Sri
Sri
Sri , also transliterated as Shri or Shree or shre is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in the Indian subcontinent as polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language, or as a title of veneration for deities .-Etymology:Sri has the root meaning of radiance, or...
(thus the name of Sri Sampradaya), is burning with desire and still not capable of entering into the realm of Vrindavana.
Prabodhananda Sarasvati who was a Sri Sampradaya sannyasi was also converted as to supreme position of Radha-Krishna being Svayam bhagavan instead of Lakshmi-Narayana. He as well apparently came to appreciate the supremacy of Radha worship from Caitanya.