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Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura took birth in a brahmana family in the year 1656 in the district of Nadiya, West Bengal. During his childhood he closely studied the scriptures, beginning with a study of Sanskrit grammar, poetry, and rhetoric. It is said that even as a boy in school, he was an undefeatable scholar who could overcome anyone in argument and debate.
When Visvanatha moved to the district of Murshidabad he received mantra initiation from his guru Krishna Charana Chakravarti. He lived for a long time in the house of his guru, where he wrote many books. From an early age, he was indifferent towards family life. For the purpose of binding his son in the contract of family life, Vishvanatha's father arranged for his marriage when he was very young. He remained a married man for only a short time. Soon he renounced his wife and home and went to live in Vrindavan. After this, his parents and relatives made many unsuccessful attempts to induce him to return to family life, but Vishvanatha Chakravarti was fixed in his determination to renounce wordly life devote himself to spiritual life.
After having come to Vrindavan, Vishvanatha took up his residence at the residence of Krishna Das Kaviraja Goswami (the famous author of Chaitanya-charitamrta) on the banks of Radha-kunda, where there lived a disciple of Krishna das Kaviraja whose name was Mukunda das. There, Shri Vishvanatha Cakravarti made a careful study of the Goswami's literatures. In that holy place he later wrote many commentaries on the books of the Goswamis.
Chakravarti was also sometimes known as Harivallabha Dasa. Vishvanatha's title, "Chakravarti" was awarded to him by the devotees. Generally this title designates one who maintains (varti) a circle (chakra) of influence. Hence chakravarti usually means "emperor," for the emperor's maintains his power over a vast circle. A more devotional explanation of this title is found in the introduction to Vishvanatha's Svapna-Vilasamrita. There is has been written, "He who reveals the jewel of devotion to Vishvanatha, the Lord of the Universe, and thus expands the circle of bhakti is a Chakravarti."
Vishvanatha Chakravarti passed away in February 1708.
His Literary Works:
Vishvanatha Chakravarti wrote commentaries on the following Gaudiya Vaisnava works:
1) Commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam (Sararthadarshini-tika)
2) Bhagavad-gita (Sararthavarshini-tika),
3) Alankara Kaustubha (Subodhini-tika);
4) Ujjvala-nilamani,
5) Ananda Vrindavana Champu (Sukhavartini-tika);
6) Rupa Goswami's Vidagdha-Madhava Natakam,
7) Gopal-tapani-upanishad;
Vishvanatha also wrote the flollowing books:
1) Shri Krishna-Bhavanamrita Mahakavya;
2) Svapnavilasamrita;
3) Madhurya Kadambini;
4) Stavamala-lahari;
5) Aishvarya Kadambini
