Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
Jatīpurā is where Śrī Mādhavendra Purī lived and performed bhajana. When the deity of Śrī Nāthajī manifested Himself, He was placed on top of Govardhana Hill. Mādhavendra Purī performed the abhiṣeka and annakūṭa festival of Śrī Nāthajī here. After entrusting the worship and service of Śrī Nāthajī to his disciples, Mādhavendra Purī then went to Purī-dhāma on the order of Śrī Nāthajī, to bring sandalwood and camphor. When he arrived at Remunā, the deity of Gopīnāthajī stole a pot of sweet-rice for him to taste. For this reason Gopīnātha is called Khīra-corā Gopīnātha, thief (cora) of the sweet-rice (khīra). When Mādhavendra Purī was returning from Jagannātha Purī with sandalwood and camphor, he received an order from Śrī Nāthajī of Govardhana in a dream. Śrī Nāthajī told him that by grinding the sandalwood and camphor, and smearing it on the body of Khīra-corā Gopīnātha every day for one month, His own body would become cool. It is not known whether Mādhavendra Purī returned to Govardhana or not. His samādhi lies in Remunā near the temple of Khīra-corā Gopīnātha.
The six Gosvāmīs, especially Śrī Rūpa, Sanātana and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmīs, had very good relations with Śrī Viṭṭhalācārya, the son of Śrī Vallabhācārya. Śrī Viṭṭhalācārya had an affectionate and friendly relationship with Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, who Śrī Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmīs regarded as a younger brother. They therefore regarded Śrī Viṭṭhalācārya as a younger brother and loved him dearly. The six Gosvāmīs, who are the topmost niṣkiñcanas76, remained absorbed in bhāva-sevā, meditation on the daily eight-fold pastimes (aṣṭa-kālīya-līlā) of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Yugala, by means of harināma-saṅkīrtana. Therefore, they entrusted the responsibility of Śrī Nāthajī’s worship to the sons of Śrī Vallabhācārya.
Our Gosvāmīs considered Śrī Girirāja-Govardhana to be Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, and never used to climb on him to take darśana of Śrī Nāthajī. Whenever the Gosvāmīs had a fervent desire to see Him, Śrī Nāthajī would Himself descend on some pretext or other to bestow His darśana, sometimes coming to Gāṅṭholī-grāma and sometimes to Sata-ghaḍā in Mathurā. This is mentioned in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta and Bhakti-ratnākara. Śrīman Mahāprabhu did not climb upon Govardhana either, and had darśana of Śrī Nāthajī in Gāṅṭholī-grāma.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
The village of Yatipura was named after Yati Maharaja, the name used by the Vrajavasis to address Madhavendra Puri Goswami. The word ‘yati’ means a ‘sadhu’, a ‘sannyasi’, or a ‘traveling mendicant’. The Annakuta-sthali of Lord Gopala is also located here. When Lord Gopala Raya was installed by Madhavendra Puri Goswami in the temple on the top of Govardhana Hill, it is said that both the annakuta and abhisheka ceremony of the Deity were performed here at Yatipura. After this event, the village gained importance and became the residential quarters of the priests who served the Deity.
One day, the temple priests who hailed from Bengal, ran away in fear of being killed by rampaging Mohammedan soldiers and Raghunatha Dasa Goswami immediately appointed Vitthalanatha Bhatta, Vallabha Bhatta’s son as the head pujari. Vitthalanatha, who was very devoted to Lord Chaitanya, was an associate and follower of Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. Vitthalanatha made his residence at Yatipura and his father Vallabha also has a baithaka, or sitting place here.
