Biography of Shri Hit Vrindavan Das Ji (Chacha Ji)

Birth and Childhood :
Shri Hit Vrindavan Das Ji has a very important contribution in making the divine nectar of Braj Ras Bhakti stream more intense. Shri Hit Vrindavan Das Ji was born in 1694 in the Gaur-Brahmin clan in a village of Brajdham, the place of pastimes of Shyam Sundar. Since childhood, He was full of divine qualities and possessed a talented personality.

Spiritual life :
At a very young age, He received the blessings of Shri Kishori Ji and by Her mercy, He is blessed with the stay of Her personal and auspicious abode, Shri Vrindavan Dham. He was the most benevolent disciple of Hitavatansh Rasavanshiya Goswami Sri Harilal Vyas Ji's son, immersed in divine couple's nectar, Goswami Shri Hit Rooplal Ji.

He received the name ‘Vrindavan Das’ by the grace of His Gurudev Sri Hita Rooplal. In his childhood, due to a lack of financial condition with his parents, Shri Vrindavandas Ji came to Vrindavan and started living under the shelter of Shri Rooplal Ji Maharaj. By the grace of Gurudev, he studied all the scriptures. It is said that when He lived in the house of Gurudev, Guru Shri Rooplal Ji's beloved grandson Goswami Shri Ladli Lalji, who was young at that time, used to call Him by His name. This was not appealing to His Guru who had paternal affection and respect for Vrindavan Das Ji. That is why, one day Guru Ji while explaining to his grandson said that you should not call him by name and instead, call him Chacha Ji (uncle). After this incident, all other people started calling him Chacha Ji. 
This rasa, which was flowing in Chacha Ji's heart, now wanted to be flooded in His words. But how can this be possible without the grace of Swamini Ju (Shri Radha) and the grace of Guru's Lotus Feet? And the most compassionate Shri Kishori Ji has always been fulfilling the wishes of Her devotees.
Chacha Ji took renunciation at the age of 64 after the departure of Gurudev Shri Rooplal Goswami Ji to Nikunj.

Context 1: Ahmed Shah Abdali's violent attack on Vrindavan
Describing Ahmed Shah Abdali's violent attack in Vrindavan during the Mughal era, Chacha Ji mentioned the killings of Rasik devotees remembering Hit Mukund Lal Ji, Hit Premdas Ji, Hit Krishna Das Ji Bhavuk, Anandghan Ji, Jadau Das, Krishnadas Pujari, Jugal Das Avadhoot and many more who were killed in that attack. Seeing such conditions of the devotees, Chacha Ji was very sad deep heartedly. After some days Chacha Ji went to Farukhabad, and there someone organized Rasleela. Chacha Ji was resting in the night after watching Rasleela. Then in the dream, He heard that someone was singing a poem of Anandaghan Ji and saw that a 12-year-old boy fell from a high building.

Chacha Ji got worried that the child had not died. But he immediately stood up and started stroking his arms. When asked by Chacha Ji, he told me that I had come to see Anandghan Ji. Chacha Ji asked - Where is Anandghan Ji? The boy said look back. Chacha Ji looked back and saw that all the devotees were seated in Rasleela, who were killed in the attack. The boy said - I have played one leela now, and I will play one more in the coming time. That means, the attack of Mughal happened twice in year 1813 and then later in year 1817. In the morning, Chacha Ji told this to all the saints and tolerated knowing Shri Hari's wish.

Context 2: Unbearable separation of Vrindavan
For some time Chacha Ji lived in the kingdom of Krishnagarh King Bahadur Singh and his son Vidir Singh. While residing in the royal palace, many texts were composed here at the request of the king. Almost 6 years were passed here with great difficulty. The separation of Vrindavan was becoming unbearable every moment. Accepting the prayer of Chacha Ji, Lord inspired the king of Krishnagarh in a dream to take Chacha Ji to Vrindavan soon. The king respectfully sent Chacha Ji to Vrindavan.

Master’s grace and Literature [Compositions] :
When love arises in the heart, the divine words of love start coming out of the heart. In the symbolic words of love, the infinite form and qualities of love are narrated. This love song has been described by the Rasik's as 'Vani'.

Once Goswami Shri Hit Roopal Ji ordered Chacha Ji to sing the praises of the Lord, but due to lack of talent, he was not able to make the poem. With this, the Guru ordered - "You should go away from here."

Extremely saddened by the Guru's order, He went to Mansarovar; But as soon as he reached there, the Lord pleased and the talent was awakened. The flow of composition started and He came to Vrindavan and narrated the praises of Sri Radhavallabh Lal to Goswami Ji.

From the mouth of Chacha Vrindavan Das Ji, there was an inexhaustible flow of speech, which continued throughout his life like the Ganges flow. Chacha Ji was so enamored that he used to see Leela [pastimes] even in dreams, which on waking up would remember him like various pictures he had seen and he would write it down.

The composition named 'Swapna Vilas' [Divine sight in the dream] is a strong proof of this. While residing at Bharatpur, at the request of King Sujan Singh Ji, He composed a historical treatise named 'Harikala Beli'. While residing in Deeg village of Bharatpur state, Chacha Ji composed 'Yamuna Pratap Beli'. While residing in Kosi, composed 'Vivah Mangal Beli' and 'Ashtyam Seva Samay Prabandha' while living in Vrindavan.

He completed the creation of a certified history book like 'Shri Hit Roop Charitra Beli' by staying in the house of a Rasik named Kashiram near the temple of Radhavallabh Ji at Kamyavan. Many compositions like 'Vrindavan Jas Prakash Beli', 'Yugal Preeti Prakash Pachisi', 'Krishna Vivah Utkantha Beli', 'Atra Patrika' etc. have been composed in the terror period of the Mughals. After coming and staying in Shri Radha Kant Mandir, Athkhamba, Vrindavan, Chacha Ji completed the book 'Braj Prem Anand Sagar' here. At the request of the king of Bharatpur, Chacha Ji came to Bharatpur for some time and, accepting his hospitality, composed 'Prem Paheri'. After a few days, Chacha Ji came again to Vrindavan and started residing in Vrindavan permanently. While living in Vrindavan, Chacha Ji made many places his spiritual place. In the composition 'Ishta Pad Bandan Beli', Chacha Ji has written that Shri Shyama Shyam had ordered me to plant a Kadamba tree on the banks of the Davanal Kund located in the Kaivari forest of Vrindavan and I also obeyed this order.

There he also sang a verse by planting a Kadamba tree. The sight of Kadamba trees is still there. Chacha Ji also visited Braj Chaurasi Kos. In the temple of Shri Radha Mohan Ji, who were the worshipful deity of Goswami Krishna Chand Ji, with the inspiration of the Rasik devotees, Chacha Ji composed two texts named 'Sevak Bhakti Parchavali' and 'Sevak Jas Virdavali'. In this way, the whole life of Chacha Ji was passed by the divine contemplation of Shyama Shyam and singing Leelas.

There are 187 literature work and many other verses of Chacha Ji Shri Hit Vrindavandas.

Leela Sanwaran [Disappearance]:
According to the belief of the Hita sect, Chacha Ji's departure to Nikunj took place in a very mysterious manner on the occasion of Falgun Shukla Dwitiya in the year 1774 at Sewa Kunj in Vrindavan. On the day of Falgun Shukla Dwitiya, the Samaj singing was being performed at Sewa Kunj. Along with all the Rasikas, Chacha Ji was also engrossed in the divine realm and entered the divine Ras Leela in front of everyone with His body. Due to this incident in the Kunj, his memorial site was built in Sewa Kunj by Hita Sect and this one-day Samaj singing festival popular from earlier tradition got converted into the Eight Day Memorial Festival of Chacha Ji.

From the same day, even today, from Falgun Shukla Dwitiya to Falgun Shukla Dashami, this Nikunj attainment festival of Chacha Ji is being held in Sewa Kunj. The memorial sign of Chacha Ji's entrance to Nikunj is still present in Seva Kunj, in which the number of verses composed by him is mentioned.