Devotees gathered on the Disappearance Day of Rupa Goswami.

Situated at New Vraja-dhama, Hungary, Rupa Goswami’s smriti samadhi, inaugurated in 2014 under the guidance of Sivarama Swami, holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. Inspired by the original samadhi in Vrindavan, it serves as a spiritual bridge, connecting devotees to the teachings and legacy of Rupa Goswami.

New Vraja-dhama (Krishna Valley) is a community of 130 devotees who embody the principle of “simple living, high thinking.” With sustainable agriculture, a goshala housing over 70 cows, and a focus on deity worship and preaching, the community welcomes more than 20,000 visitors annually.

In an interview with ISKCON News, Ashtasakhi Devi Dasi, a disciple of Sivarama Swami, shared insights into her service at Rupa Goswami’s smriti samadhi. Since moving there in 2007 at her spiritual master’s request, she has served as the samadhi’s dedicated caretaker, maintaining its sanctity, organizing devotional activities, and inspiring others to deepen their connection with Rupa Goswami’s teachings through service and reflection.

“In Vraja Navamahima, Srila Sivarama Swami Maharaj wrote about three types of samadhis namely Deha Samadhi where the pure devotee’s body is laid in the samadhi, Pushpa Samadhi, where we keep the flowers that cover the body of the pure devotee, and Smriti Samadhi, with a name and a picture or a picture of the devotee so that we can remember. And since the name is not different from the form, that is equivalent to any other type of Samadhis,” mentioned Ashtasakhi Devi Dasi.

Rupa Goswami’s smriti samadhi at New Vraja-dhama.

Rupa Goswami, one of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s principal followers, is revered for his contributions to the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. Empowered personally by Mahaprabhu, he authored works such as Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction, Ujjvala Nilamani, Vidagdha Madhava, and Lalita Madhava, which reveal the secrets of Bhakti and Rasa Tattva, inspiring countless souls to advance in their sadhana and aspire for eternal service to Their Lordships.

Sivarama Swami had envisioned a Vrindavan-like community in New Vraja-dhama, with replicas of the holy places of Vrindavan. Among these, Rupa Goswami’s Smriti Samadhi serves as a focal point for remembrance, service, and sangha. During its inauguration, devotees recited a heartfelt prayer, which reflected the humility and dedication with which the samadhi was established inviting Rupa Goswami to accept this offering as his eternal bhajan place: “O Mahasaya, who is very dear to the heart of Gauranga, your original Samadhi is in Bhauma Vrindavan, but I cannot be there, so I ask you to accept your accommodation here, what we offer for you, and please give us your mercy. Please allow us to serve you.”

Rupa Goswami’s smriti samadhi is a powerful spiritual place where devotees can feel the acharya’s presence and draw inspiration for their sadhana. The samadhi contains flowers from Rupa Goswami’s original samadhi in Vrindavan, and devotees take care of it, decorating it with flowers and performing daily worship. Behind the samadhi, there is an ashram house with two apartments, and surrounding it is a big garden with fruit trees.

On Rupa Goswami’s Disappearance Day, devotees gather for kirtan, offer flower petals and prayers, and participate in morning class in the garden. The program also includes offerings to the community’s Govardhan Shila, and prasadam distribution. Students from Bhaktivedanta College in Budapest and visiting devotees join these celebrations, creating a sense of unity and shared spiritual growth.

The samadhi is adorned with a marble inscription featuring a verse from Rupa Goswami’s Utkalika Vallari, which reflects the humility and aspiration of a devotee yearning to serve Radha and Krishna: “I am not qualified to serve Radha Krishna, and I know that even in my dreams they are not mine, but O my King and Queen, living in your Vraj, I have a very deep hope to get your service.”

Radha Kunda Devi Dasi, elder to Ashtasakhi Devi Dasi, also lived at Rupa Goswami’s Smriti Samadhi, dedicating her life to its care. Despite battling cancer, she participated in the samadhi’s inauguration in 2014. On Radhastami of the same year, she left her body peacefully in the ashram. Sivarama Swami, who was also her spiritual master, affirmed that she was a pure devotee who returned to Godhead. In her memory, a plaque on the wall honors her life of devotion and her transcendental departure from the ashram at Rupa Goswami’s smriti samadhi.

Devotees from other parts of the world, such as Asia, America, and other countries of Europe, come and participate in the services. Ashtasakhi Devi Dasi concluded, “Rupa Goswami’s smriti samadhi is there, it means that Rupa Goswami is there in his spiritual form. We go there, offer our obeisances, circumambulate them, and feel they are there. If we have enough faith and do our sadhana very nicely, Vrindavan will appear for us, and it will be a very popular and nice pilgrimage place inviting many devotees from around the world.”

To learn more about Krishna Valley, visit its websites here and here, and follow them on Facebook, X, and YouTube.

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