Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to Gopala Bhatta Goswami and told him to go to Nepal to the river Gandaki. As Gopal was taking his bath 12 saligram shilas appeared in his pot.He put them back in the water but they again appeared. This happened 3 times. So he concluded that the Lord wants to come to Vrindavan. So he brought the Saligram shilas back and worshipped them with great devotion.
One time a very wealthy person came to Vrindavan and offered various ornaments and clothes to the different deities. In Gopal Bhatta’s heart Krishna manifested to create a desire to be worshipped in another form.
We should understand that the desires of the great souls are mirrors of Krishna’s desire.
When Gopala Bhatta Goswami thought of serving the 3 fold bending form of Krishna, it meant Krishna wanted to receive that service from him. On Nrsingha Caturdasi Gopala Bhatta Goswami prayed to Lord Krishna, “For Your devotee Prahlad You appeared from a stone pillar. If it is your desire, please appear from this stone sila, in your transcendental form, so that I can serve you.” The next morning he saw that the Damodar sila manifested Krishna’s 3 fold bending form. This self-manifested deity had very fine features….little teeth and finger nails and each of His limbs were very beautiful. All the goswamis unanimously agreed that the feet of Madanmohan, the flute playing of Gopinath and the smiling face of Govinda have all together manifested in the form of Gopala Bhatta Goswami’s murti. Just close by was Nidhivan where Krishna renders loving service to Srimati Radharani. Thus the goswamis named the deity Radharaman.
– Radhanath Swami
