Śrīdhara Svāmī

Śrīdhara Svāmī · śrī-dhara svāmī, “the one who bears Śrī”

Śrīdhara has other meanings too: see all meanings of Śrīdhara.

Śrīdhara Svāmī is the author of the bhakti-filled Bhāvārthadīpikā on the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. The Pratisarga Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa tells that Bhagavān Sūrya, at the coming of mleccha rule in the Kali Yuga, went to Vṛndāvana and became renowned under the name Śrīdhara. It also tells of a Śiva-worshipping brāhmaṇa named Śrīdhara, who recited the Bhāgavata Saptāha to the king of Pattana-nagara and was killed by seven thieves on the way home. His wife looked back to Bhagavān Rāma, by whom the thieves had sworn, and Bhagavān Śrī Rāma appeared, killed the seven and restored him to life. From that day Śrīdhara was a Vaishṇava. He went to Kṛshṇacaitanya at Śāntipurī, gained Brahma-jñāna, became his disciple and wrote a ṭīkā on the Śrīmad Bhāgavata.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapters 8, 19

Bhagavān Sūrya at Vṛndāvana

Bṛhaspati tells the devas at Prayāga that Bhagavān Sūrya came to Prayāga and gave darśana in the form of Parjanya. With gladness he said to the devas: “Devas, in the terrible Kali Yuga there will be mleccha rule; then I shall come to Vṛndāvana and do the devas’ work.”

Saying this Bhagavān Sūrya went to Vṛndāvana and became renowned under the name Śrīdhara. He wrote the bhakti-filled Bhāvārthadīpikā commentary on the Śrīmad Bhāgavata and told the boundless glory of the Bhāgavata.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 8

Śrīdhara and the seven thieves

Sūta tells the muni that there was a Śiva-worshipping brāhmaṇa named Śrīdhara. The king of Pattana-nagara heard the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Saptāha from him and gave him much wealth.

Taking the wealth, Śrīdhara left the king and came to his father-in-law’s home. He stayed there one month and set out for home again with his wife. Seven thieves came along with them, swearing by Bhagavān Rāma so as to gain trust in friendship, but with evil intent.

On the way a forest came, and at its far edge the thieves killed Śrīdhara and began to flee with his wife and the bullock-cart with the wealth. His wife kept looking back again and again. The thieves said: “Why look that way now? Your husband is dead.” She said: “I am looking at Bhagavān Rāma, by whom you swore.”

At this Bhagavān Śrī Rāma, of the form of Saccidānanda, appeared and killed all seven thieves. He restored the brāhmaṇa to life and sent him to Vṛndāvana.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 19

Disciple of Kṛshṇacaitanya

From that day the brāhmaṇa Śrīdhara was a Vaishṇava. In the seventh year of Yajñāṃśa Śrī Kṛshṇacaitanya he went to Caitanyadeva at Śāntipurī, gained Brahma-jñāna and became his disciple. Then he wrote a ṭīkā on the Śrīmad Bhāgavata.

Source: Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 19

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapters 8, 19