The Gosvamis are the Lord’s eternal associates.

Sri Krishna’s eternal associates are a manifestation of His svarupa sakti, His innate energy.

mata pita sthana griha sayyasana ara; e sab krishnera suddha sattvera vikara (C.C.): “Krishna’s mother, father, area of residence, house, bed and sittingplace are all transformations of suddha sattva (pure existence, or transcendence).”

These eternal associates are most eligible to relish the mellows of Sri Krishna’s pastimes, and by following in their foot steps the flavour of Krishna’s pastimes should be relished, because the waves of ecstasy that arise in the hearts of these associates come forth from the relish of the mellows of His transcendental pastimes. Without following in their foot steps the sadhaka bhaktas can not establish their relationships with Sri Krishna, nor can they taste even a drop of this nectar. Allegiance to the Vraja-parshadas (associates) causes the flavours of the sweet pastimes they relish to be infused within the sadhaka bhaktas, so that it becomes most relishable also for them.

The Gosvamis are extraordinarily merciful, and they have left the remnants of their own transcendental experiences of lila madhurya within their books. If a sadhaka bhakta hears and chants the topics of these books in allegiance to them he will nicely relish the mellows of these transcendental pastimes.

– Srila Ananta das Babaji