goswami / swami definition

Gosani means gosvami. A person who has full control over the senses and mind is called a gosvami or gosani. One who does not have such control is called godasa, or a servant of the senses, and cannot become a spiritual master. A spiritual master who actually has control over the mind and senses is called gosvami. Although the gosvami title has become a hereditary designation for unscrupulous men, actually the title gosani or gosvami began from Sri Rupa Gosvami, who presented himself as an ordinary grhastha and minister in government service but became gosvami when he was actually elevated by the instruction of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore gosvami is not a hereditary title but refers to one's qualifications. When one is highly elevated in spiritual advancement, regardless of wherefrom he comes, he may be called gosvami. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Advaita Gosani Prabhu are natural gosvamis because They belong to the Visnu-tattva category. As such, all of Them are prabhus ("predominators" or "masters"), and They are sometimes called Caitanya Gosani, Nityananda Gosani and Advaita Gosani. Unfortunately Their so-called descendants who do not have the qualifications of gosvamis have accepted this title as a hereditary designation or a professional degree. That is not in accord with the sastric injunctions. (More...)

So gosvami is not a hereditary title. It is a qualification, under the direction of spiritual master. One who attains perfection in controlling the senses, he is called svami or gosvami. So one has to become svami, gosvami; then he can become spiritual master. Without being svami or master of the senses, to become a spiritual master is bogus. That is also defined by Rupa Gosvami. He says, (More...)

The demands of the body: eating, sleeping, sex life and defense-this is the demands of the body. But if I am situated in self-realization, then these demands will not bother me. There are many persons who are not agitated by hunger, who are not agitated not having opportunity of sleeping. They don't sleep. Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau. About the Gosvamis it is said that these things, material demands of the body-sleeping, eating, sex and defense... They are the demands of the body. But how they became gosvami or svami? Because they are not affected by these demands. That is gosvami; that is svami. Svami means master. Gosvami means master of the senses. So if I am servant of the senses, how I can become gosvami, how I can become svami? That is false, hypocrisy. If you are servant of the senses, then you are go-dasa. Dasa means servant, and go means senses. And if you are master of the senses, then you are gosvami. Every word has meaning. So without being fit, we should not use this word as personal designation. That is not good. (More...)

The mind is very restless. The whole yogic process is meant for controlling the mind, because unless you control the mind, the mind will volumes and volumes of desires, hundreds, thousands, millions. And you have to satisfy them. Then where is santi? You have to satisfy the master. Who has become your master? Mind. Then you are disturbed. There cannot be any peace. And mind has got many millions of desires. Therefore when you can control over the mind, that mind desires something and you have to control, "No, you cannot do it," then you become a svami. Svami... These sannyasis, they are given the title svami or gosvami because the sannyasis are supposed to control over the mind, over the senses. Therefore they are called svami. Otherwise, not svami but servant. If you are controlled by the mind, then you are servant, and if you are controller of the mind, then you are svami, the same person. (More...)