Jīva Gosvāmī:

Biography and Bibliography

Abstract

The article "Jīva Gosvāmī: Biography and Bibliography" by Jan Brzezinski offers a succinct yet informative overview of the life and literary contributions of the prominent 16th-century Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava theologian, Jīva Gosvāmī. Beginning with his early life in Bengal and his familial connection to Rūpa and Sanātana Gosvāmins, Brzezinski outlines Jīva’s intellectual trajectory—including his formative studies in Vārāṇasī and his subsequent immersion into Gauḍīya theology in Vṛndāvana. The article foregrounds Jīva’s central role in establishing the sampradāya’s philosophical framework, highlighting his magnum opus, the Ṣaṭ Sandarbhas, as a monumental synthesis of Vedānta, Pāñcarātra, and Bhāgavata Purāṇa theology. Brzezinski also provides a chronological bibliography of Jīva’s works, offering manuscript sources and thematic summaries, which underscore the breadth of Jīva’s doctrinal sophistication and his lasting influence on Vaiṣṇava thought. The piece serves as both an introduction to Jīva’s historical context and a valuable reference for future scholarship.