Shri Baladeva Vidyabhushana (Disappearance)

Baladeva Vidyabhushana (ca.arround 1650 -1743) was a prominent Gaudiya Vaishnava acharya (religious teacher) He born in Gauradanda, Orissa. In fact it is known for sure that in 1706 Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura sent it to Galta near Jaipur, Rajasthan to represent and improve the credibility of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. Historians have estimated that he was born sometime in the 18th century, in Odisha (possibly near Remuna, Balasore ). Some wrongly believe that he disappeared in 1768. His Aisvarya-kadambini mentions the year 1779 (year 1701 of Shaka era), and his disappearance in 1793 was documented in the court of the King of Jaipur.

At a very early age, he finished his studies of grammar, poetry, rhetoric and logic and then went on pilgrimage. During this time he spent some time with the Tattvavadis in South India and thus became conversant with the Vaishnava Theology of Sri Madhva. He became a powerful exponent of this system throughout India.

During his travels he again came to Utkaladesa (Odisha) and met with a grand-disciple of Sri Rasikananda Deva, Sri Radha-Damodara Deva by name, with whom he discussed philosophy. Sri Radha-Damodara Deva explained the conclusions of Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology as expounded by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. These talks penetrated his heart and awakened divine love within. Thus, after a few days he was initiated with the Radha-Krsna mantra and began to study the Sat-sandarbhas of Sri Jiva Gosvami.

In a very short time he became very expert in Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy. With the permission and blessings of his guru, he moved to Sri Vrindavana (Vrindavan) to further study these teachings under Sri Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Baladeva fully accepted the Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy and began to preach it with great vigor.

Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana became known later as Sri Govinda dasa. He had two well-known disciples: Sri Uddhava dasa and Sri Nanda Misra.

Some of his books are: Bhasya-pithaka, Sri Govinda-bhasya, Siddhanta-ratnam, Sahitya-kaumudi, Vedanta-syamantaka, Prameya-ratnavali, Siddhanta-darpana, Kavya-kaustubha, Vyakarana-kaumudi, Pada-kaustubha, Isadi-upanisad bhasya, Gitabhusana-bhasya, Sri Visnunamasahasra-bhasya, Sanksepa-bhagavatamrta- tippani-saranga-rangada, Tattva-sandarbha-tika, Stava-mala-vibhusana-bhasya, Nataka-candrika-tika, Candraloka-tika, Sahitya-kaumudi-tika, Srimad-Bhagavata-tika, Vaisnavanandini, etc.