Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
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Overview
Narottama was born about the middle of the fifteenth Saka century. From his childhood he was extremely attracted to Lord Caitanya. According to some, after the death of his father, Narottama entrusted his elder paternal uncle's son, Santosh Datta, with the responsibility of the royal duties and left for Vrndavana.
Kayastha by caste, Narottama was the son of King Krsnananda Datta. Krsnananda was the Zamindar of Gopalpur Pargana in the Rajsahi district of Bangladesh. His capital was located at Kheturi, about a mile northeast of Prematali on the bank of the river Padma, about a distance of twelve miles northwest of Rampur Boalia.
Narottama Dasa Thakura was a life long brahmacari. He visited all the holy places and he was the best of pure devotees. On the banks of the Padmavati river, in the town of Gopalpura lived King Krsnanada Datta. His older brother was Purusottama Datta. The wealth and fame of these two brothers was beyond compare. King Krsnananda’s son was Sri Santosa Datta. In the month of Magha, on the day of sukla-pancami, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura took his birth. Seeing many auspicious omens surrounding the birth of his son, Raja Krsnananda was very pleased, and gave lavishly in charity to the brahmanas. The brahmanas, seeing all the auspicious signs surounding the child’s birth, prophesied that the boy was a highly perfected soul and great personality, by whose influence many people would be delivered.
Just as a crescent moon gradually becomes full the king’s son grew more effulgent and beautiful with each passing day. His bodily luster was just like molten gold. His eyes were large and shaped like lotus petals. His arms exteneded to his knees and he had a deep navel. All these are the bodily sympotms of a mahaprurusa, a great personality. All the local townspeople used to gather to take darsana of the beautiful and saintly child. Soon, the boy’s anna-prasana-samskara, or grain-eating ceremony was held. At that time, in order to insure auspiciousness and a bright future for his son, King Krsnananda gave much charity.
The king’s wife’s name was Sri Narayani devi. Having given birth to such a wonderul son, she was floating in the ocean of ecstasy. She always kept the boy close to her and was always concerned for his well-being, caring for him constantly. The boy was extemely peaceful. Wherever his mother put him, he would quiet stay put. Within the ladies quarters, the ladies used to nurture and care for the child with great ecstasy. Gradually the day of his entrance into school (Hate-Khari) approached. As his schooling went on, everyone was astonished at his amazing intelligence. Simply by hearing a subject once from his gurus he would commit it to memory. In only a short time, he mastered the study of Sanskrit grammar, poetry, rehetoric, and became expert in many different scriptures. But gradually he saw as useless any knowledge which did not promote hari-bhajan, and soon lost interest in everything but Krishna consciousness. He found that in previous times the learned, who understood what real knowledge is, left everything, renouncing the world of birth and death, and went off to the forest in order to worship the Supreme Lord, Hari.
Desires to Leave Home
Day after day, Narottama began to think of how he could become free from family life and constantly engage himself in the Lord’s service. He was indifferent to all material enjoyment; where most children usually like to play, he was uninterested in playing games. At this time, hearing the glories of Sri Nityananda and Sri Gauranga, from the lotus lips of the devotees of the Lord, his heart was filled with spiritual joy. As if he had been given new life, he felt great ecstasy. Within a few days of hearing the wonderful qualities of Gaura and Nityananda, he began to chant their holy names in japa day and night. One night the merciful Sri Gaurasundara, surrounded by his eternal associates appeared to Narottama in a dream and gave him darshan. After this, in order to understand how to become free from family life, Narottam das Thakur began to think day and night of how he could go to Vrindavana. Narottam has prayed, "Hari Hari! kabe haba Vrindavanavasi?" O Hari, when will I become a resident of Vrindavana? When will I serve the beautiful divine couple in Vrindavana with tears in my eyes? In this way, Narottama would constantly sing. Seeing Narottama’s indifference to all sense pleasure and his intense renunciation, King Krishnananda and Narayani Devi began to think about what to do with him. Seeing that he was not inclined towards family life, and that he might soon leave home unexpectedly to go to Vrindavana they became very worried. They employed a guard to watch over him so that he could’nt leave. Narottama Dasa saw that the difficulties involved in escaping were becoming more impassable than the Himalayas, and thought that he might never be able to go to Vrindavana and absorb himelf in the worshp of the holy feet of Sri Gauranga. Thinking only of how to get the mercy of Sri Gaura-Nityananda, he began to pray very earnestly for guidance from them. And so it came to pass that some messengers came from the Ruler of Bengal, informing King Krishnananda that the ruler of Bengal wanted to meet with him. I order to meet with the Ruler of Bengal, Raja Krishnananda and his brother Purushottama Datta set out on a long journey to the court of the ruler of Bengal.
Narottama took advantage of the moment, thinking it to be a good opportunity to leave home. At that time, he secretly left his mother and his protectors, turned towards Vrindavana and began his journey to that holy land. It was on the full moon day in the month of Kartika that Narottama Thakura left his family behind. Passing through Bengal in a short time, he soon found himself on the road to Mathura. All the other pilgrims he would meet were very affectioante toward Narottama, as they could recognize him as the son of the king. He would sometimes live by drinking milk and sometimes would eat the roots and fruits as he went along. His constant hankering to see Vrindavana made his hunger and thirst go away. As he moved from place to place, he would hear the glories of Gaura and Nityananda from the mouths of many devotees. In this way he was always thinking about their lotus feet, constantly absorbed in meditation. As he walked and walked, he prayed to the lotus feet of Shri Nityananda Prabhu, as he has written: "ara kabe nitai chand..." "When will Nityananda show his mercy to me and free me from the world of birth and death? By his mercy one may give up material enjoyment and purify his mind. In this way, by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, one can attain Vrindavana."
Meets Lokanatha Swami
In this way, walking and walking, Narottama das arrived in Mathura and, seeing the Yamuna, he offered many prayers. Remembering the names of the Six Goswamis headed by Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, he began to weep in ecstasy. Gradually he came to Vrindavana itself and entered into that holy land. He was sent by Sri Jiva Goswami to serve the lotus feet of Lokanatha Goswami. Lokanatha Maharaja was very ancient, and was so deeply agonized by the pain of separation from Sri Gauranga that it was as if his very life had been taken away. Narottama offered his obeisances to the lotus feet of Sri Lokanatha and Lokanatha asked him, "Who are you?" Narottama said, "I am your fallen servant. I wish to serve your lotus feet," Lokanatha replied, "How can I, who an unable to serve Gaura-Nityananda, accept any service?"
After this, Narottama Thakura would secretly go in the middle of the night to the place where Lokanatha Maharaja would pass stool and urine, and cleanse the area, maintaining everything there very nicely. After a year of serving in this way, his service was recognized by Lokanatha Goswami, and bestowed his mercy upon Narottama Thakura. On the full moon day of the month of Sravana, he initiated Narottama Thakura as his disciple.
He used to eat by practicing madhukari, and would study the Goswami scriptures under the guidance of Sri Jiva Goswami. Srinivas Acharya was his dear friend, and together the two of them used to study under Jiva Goswami. At that time Shyamanada Prabhu arrived from Gauda-Desh; he also began studying the Goswami’s scriptures under the guidance of Sri Jiva Goswami. These three with one mind performed their bhajan in Vrindavana and yet still they felt that their inner aspiration had not attained its complete fulfillment. One day Jiva Goswami called the three of them to him and said" In the future, you must preach the message of Sriman Mahaprabhu far and wide. Taking the literatures of the Goswamis you must quickly go to Bengal and begin preaching."
First Book Distribution
The three of them gave up their residence in Vrindavana and accepting the order of their guru on their heads. Taking the treasured scriptures of the Goswamis with them they started on their heads.
Taking the treasured scriptures of the Goswamis with them they started on their journey to Bengal. As continued on their way, gradually they came to Vanavishnupur. In Vanavishnupur lived a king of dacoits and thieves named Sri Birhambir. At night he had the scriptures stolen, thinking them to be teasure of some kind. Awakening in the morning and seeing the scriptures stolen, the three of them felt as if their heads had been hit by a thunderbolt. Miserable beyond description, the three of them began searching the four directions for the scriptures, until finally news came to them that King Birhambir had stolen the books and was keeping them hidden in his royal storehouse. At this, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu headed for Utkala and Narottama started for Kheturigram, while Srinivasa Acharya stayed behind, thinking to somehow deliver the Goswami’s books from the King’s storehouse.
In order to see the holy birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Narottama went to quickly visit Nabadwipa. Arriving there, he began chanting "O Gaurahari! O Gaurahari!" on the banks of the Ganges hundreds and hundreds of times and offered many prayers to the Lord. Sitting beneath the shade of a Tal tree, he began to wonder "Where is the actual place of Shri Caitanya’s birth?" He sat there for some time, thinking of what to see next. Just then, an old brahmana happened to walk by. Narottama rose to his feet to show respect to the brahmana. The brahmana said, "Baba, from where have you come? What is your name?"
Narottama introduced himself and expressed his desire to see the holy birthplace of Sri Chaitanya. The brahmana replied, "Today my life has become auspicious, for before my eyes is a dear devotee of Sri Chaitanya." Narottama said, "Baba! you have seen Chaitanya?" The brahmana replied, ‘What are you saying! Every day Nimai Pandit sits with his disciples at this ghat and discusses the shastra, and then, from a distance I watch him and wonder at the beauty of his divine form. Today I remember seeing that very form sitting beneath this tree here, where he sits every day." As the brahmana spoke, tears of ecstasy poured from his eyes. Narottama said, "Baba! It is the fortune of a lifetime that I have beheld you with these eyes." Saying this, tears fell from his eyes also, and, falling to the ground, Narottama touched the brahmana’s feet to his head.
The brahmana said, "Baba! I give you my blessings that soon you will attain devotion to the lotus feet of Govinda. At that time, you will preach the glories of Gaura-Govinda far and wide."
Jagannatha Misra's House
After this, the brahmana showed Narottama das the path to where the house of Jagannatha Mishra was. Finding that path, Sri Narottama walked until he came to the house of Jagannatha Mishra. Arriving at the house of Jagannatha Mishra, he fell down at the door with tears in his eyes and offered his full obeisances, while reciting various prayers in glorification of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Entering within the house he had darshan of the lotus feet of Shuklambara Brahmacari. Narottama offered his respects to his feet. From different signs, Suklambara Cakravarti could understand that Narottam was an agent of Sri Chaitanya’s mercy. he asked, "Who are you?"
Narottama introduced himself, explaining that he had been living in Vrindavana under the care of Jiva Goswami and Lokanatha Goswami, and that he had just arrived in Nabadwipa. Sri Lokanatha said,"Baba, you have come from Vrindavana? You were with Lokanatha and Jiva Goswami?" At length, he made Narottama rise, and embraced him heartily, barraging him with endless questions about the well-being, activities, and good health of the Goswamis. In this way he talked on and on with Narottama, as he wanted to hear all about Vrindavana and everything that was going on there. Finally, Narottama got to meet Ishan Thakur, the old servant of Srimate Sacimata, and upon meeting him, he offered his prayers of respect at his holy feet and introduced himself. Sri Ishan Thakura touched Narottama’s head, bestowing his blessings upon him, and then embraced him affectionately. After this Narottama went to the house of Shrivas Pandit and offered his respects to Sripati and Srinidhi Pandit. All of them affectionately embraced Narottama. After staying for a few days in Mapapura, Narottama went to visit the house of Advaita in Shantipura. There he offered his respects at the lotus feet of Acyutananda. Acyutananda introduced himself and inquired after the health and wellbeing of the Vrindavan Goswamis.
After staying in Shantipura for two days, he went on to Ambika Kalna to the house of Gauridas Pandit. At that time, Sri Hridaya Chaitanaya Prabhu was staying there. He was the disciple of Gauridas Pandit. Sri Narottama offered his respects to Hridaya Chaitanya. The two of them affectionately embraced and Narottam gave him news of the activites of the Goswamis in Vrindavana. After staying in Ambika Kalna for a day, he went on to the place where the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati meet?a village called Saptagram. In that place Uddharana Datta Thaura lived. Sri Nityananda Prabhu had previosuly given his mercy to the residents of Saptagram, and so all the people there were great devotees. After the disappearance of Uddharana Datta Thakura, the people in the village felt like they had lost their vision. Sri Narottama went to the house of Uddharana Datta Thakura and there, he found that the devotees were absorbed in separation from their guru, in great agony passing their days. Narottama Das offered his respects to all the Vaishnavas there and continued on his way to Kharadaha Gram.
Meets Jahnava Mata
In Kharadaha Gram Sri Nityanada Prabhu had a residence where his two energies, Sri Vasudha and Jahnava Devi lived. Sri Narottama went to the house of Nityananda and remembering the sublime holy name of Nityananda his voice choked up in ecstasy. Sri Parameshavari das Thakura took Sri Narottama within the inner portion of the house reserved for women and brought him to the lotus feet of Sri Jahnava Mata and Sri Vasudha. Having been introduced to Narottama, who they could understand had received the mercy of Lokanatha and Jiva Goswami, they bestowed their mercy upon him. It is said in the Bhakti-Ratnakara that both Vasu, who was the knower of all truths, and Sri Jahnava, who is the Supreme Mistress, bestowed their incomparable mercy upon Narottama.
Four days later, Narottama, after having spent much time discussing Krishna-katha in great ecstasy with Sri Jahnava and Vasu, bade them farewell and left for the town of Khanakula Krishna-nagara to see the place of Abhirma Gopal Thakura. Having met him, Narottama offered his respects to the holy feet of Abhiram Gopal. He was passing his days in the great pain of separation from Shri Caitanya and Nityananda. He had become extremely internal, barely spending any time in the plane of external consciousness. Seeing him in that conditon, Narottam wept a great deal. The Gopinath Deity of Abhiram Thakura was wonderful to see. Narottama took darshan of the deity and recited many prayers and verses in praise of the Lord before the deity. The next day, after taking his leave of the house of Abhiram Gopal, Narottam had some inspiration from within and set out for Jagannatha Puri.
Reaches Jagannatha Puri
Constantly absorbed in thinking of the eternal associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, it seemed to Narottama that he reached in Jagannatha Puri in no time at all. Sri Gopinatha Acharya and many other devotees, seeing Narottam on the path all went out to greet him on the road. In this way, surrounded by devotee, he arrived in Jagannatha Puri. After Sri Narottama had paid his obeisances at the lotus feet of Gopinatha Acarya and the Acarya had warmly embraced him, Gopinatha Acarya said, "This very day I was hoping that you might arrive." Soon Narottama and all the devotees from Vrindavana and Bengal began talking on and on about Krishna, Gauranga, the Goswamis and many other topics. All the devotees were very happy to have Narottama in their midst, and they took him to have darshan in the temple of Jagannatha. While taking darshan of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, Narottama offered many fine prayers in their glorification and bowed down before them again and again.
After this he went to the samadhi of Haridas Thakura and upon arrivig there began to drown in the ocean of Sri Krishna Prema. After this he went to the house of Gadadhara Pandit, and began to shout at the top of his lungs in a loud voice, "O life and soul of Gauranga! O Gadadhara!" Thereafter he took darshan of the Tota Gopinatha deity and offered his respects at the lotus feet of Sri Mamu Goswami Thakur who was at that time engaged in the service of Sri Gopinatha.
Thereafter, Sri Narottama Das Thakura drew near to that part of the Gopinatha deity where it is said that Mahaprabhu entered into, when he disappeared from this earth by entering into the deity in the presence of his devotees. This is recorded in Bhakti-Ratnakara: "It is difficult to understand the movements of that crown jewel of sannyasis, Sri Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu. Upon his disappearance, all of a suddent the earth became dark. He entered into the Gopinatha mandir and never came out. In this way he left the visible plane and entered into the invisible plane. (B. R. 8:57).
Hearing of the disappearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Narottama said, "O Saci-nandana, O Gaurahari!" and fell unconscious on the ground. Seeing Narottama’s bewildered state of separation from the Lord, all the devotees began crying tears of prema. After this, Narottama went to the house of Kashi Mishra, took darshan of the generous lotus feet of Sri Gopala Guru Goswami and saw the deities at the Radha-Kanta math. After this he went to the Gundica temple for darshan, and remembered the Lord’s pastimes in the Jagannatha vallabha gardens. Then he visited the Narendra Sarovara, and many other places. After a few days, having experienced great transcendental bliss in the association of the devotees of Jagannatha Puri, and having visited all the places of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes, he took his leave of the devotees and left for Sri Nrishingha-pura. Once there, he went to Shyamananda Prabhu’s house. Seeing Narottama after such a long time, Shyamananda Prabhu was floating in the ocean of ecstasy. In the ecstasy of Krishna-prema the two of them joyfully embraced one another.
Shyamananda Prabhu, out of affection kept Narottama in Nrishinga-pura for many days, not allowing him to leave. Sri Narottama sanctified the town of Nrishinga-pura by drowning everyone there in a nectarine flood of Sankirtan. Together Shyamananda and Narottama would go on discussing Krishna-katha in great ecstasy, without any knowledge of whether it was day or night. After some time, Shri Narottama Thakura bade farewell to Sri Shyamananda Prabhu and set out for Gaudadesh.
He quickly came to Sri Khanda. There he offered his respects to the lotus feet of Sri Narahari Sarkara Thakura and Sri Raghunandana. Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura had great affection for Narottama’s father, Sri Krishnananda. Offering his respects to Narottama in return, Narahari blessed him many times, touching him on the head with his hand. Sri Raghunandana embraced him affectionately. They asked him to tell them all about the devotees in Jagannatha Puri. In this way, Narottama went from one place to the next in Sri Khanda, his transcendental pleasure always increasing. Narottama spent many days in Sri Khanda in great happiness, performing Sankirtan and dancing in the association of the devotees there.
Gadadhara Embraces
Bidding farewell to all the eternal associates of Mahaprabhu in Sri Khanda, he went on the Kanthak Nagra, to the house of Gadadhara das Thakura. He fell before the house of Gadadhara das, offering his respects, and Gadadhara das affectionately embraced him. The Bhakti Ratnakara says, "Seeing Narottama, Gadadhara das embraced him with great affection, wetting his body with tears of joy." Sri Gadadhara das Prabhu was passing his days in the pain of separation from Gaura-Nityananda. Narottama Thakura stayed there for two days, and then left to see the birthplace of Sri Nityananda Prabhu in the Radadesh. And so, Narottama went to Ekachakra Grama to visit the holy place of Nityananda’s birth. There, an old brahmana who was affectionately disposed towards Narottama showed him the different holy places where Nityananda had performed his lila.
Remembering the holy names of Hadai Pandit and Padmavati Devi, Narottama fell to the ground, his voice choked up with ecstasy. After seeing the holy birthplace of Nityananda, Narottama started out for Kheturi Gram. As the Bhakti Ratnakara says,"After inquiring about the way to Kheturi Gram from the local people, he quickly came to the banks of the Padmavati. Crossing over the Padmavati, he arrived in Kheturi. Upon his arrival, all the people of the village wanted to be the first to meet him." Since Narottama had been away for so long, there was a big welcoming celebration. Hearing of his arrival, the residents of Kheturi Grama all began making preparations to welcome him. Raja Krishnananda and Sri Purushottama Datta, the father and uncle of Narottama had already passed away, and had gone back to Godhead, to the spiritual world. But Purushottama, Narottama’s uncle had a son whose name was Sri Santosha Datta. After the passing of King Krishnananda and Purushottama, he was shown much wealth and material enjoyment. Santosh was the foremost of saintly persons in the village. And when he heard that Narottama Thakura was about to bless that town with his holy footsteps after such a long time, in order to be the first one to greet Narottama, he rushed out with the rest of the devotees to wait for him on the road outside Kheturi Grama.
Initiates Santosh
After some time, Narottama could be seen in the distance. Upon seeing him, Santosh, after bowing prostrate with full obeisances, went forward with tears of ecstasy in his eyes, falling on the ground again and again to take the dust of Narottama’s lotus feet. At this, Narottama affectionately embraced Santosh and asked how he had been faring all the time, asking him many questions about his health, happiness and well-being.
A few days later, Narottama Thakur initiated Santosh with the Radha-Krishna mantra. Raja Santosh Datta had previously wanted that a temple to be built and a deity installed. Now he begged at Narottama Thakura’s lotus feet for his permission. Narottama gladly gave his approval.
Within a few months, Raja Santosh Datta had seen to it that a large temple was built. The temple compound included a big storehouse for food, a kirtan hall, a residence hall and ashram for devotees, a bathing and, a beautiful flower garden, and a guest house. On the full moon day of Phalguna on the festival day of Mahaprabhu’s appearance the temple was dedicated and the deities were installed and a great festival, which can only be compared to the Rajasuya-yajna of Yudhistira Maharaja in its vast expasivness began and was celebrated for miles around. Messengers were sent out for miles around Kheturi Gram, to near and distant lands, to invite kings, landowners, poets, pandits, Vaishnavas, authors, as well as many other illustrious guests. Some were sent far and wide to invite the topmost singers and orators. Preparations were made to install six deities at one time.
Srila Narottama Thakura was constantly absorbed in singing the glories of Sri Gauranga and Nityananda. Day after day many atheists, agnostics, offenders, Shiva worshippers, folowers of Durga, dry logicians, mental speculators and karmis were purified by the touch of his holy lotus feet. Taking the blessings of Narottama, Sri Ramachandra Kaviraja went to Sri Vindavana Dhama. After a few months there, he entered into the eternal lila of Sri Radha and Govinda. This extremely terrible and unbearable news came to Srinivas Acharya, and, unable to bear the spearation from his dear disciple, he too passed away from this earth and entered into the eternal pastimes of Radha and Govinda. Hearing all this terrible news, Srila Narottama plunged into the ocean of separation where he began to drown. In the great and unbearable agony of separation he wrote the song, "ye anilo premadhana." Barely able to keep afloat in the ocean of separation, Srila Narottama Thakura went near banks of the Ganges in the village called Gambhilaya and entered a temple of Mahaprabhu.
Disappearance
Narottama ordered the devotees to perform kirtan. The devotees began performing Sankirtan. After Sankirtan, Narottama Thakura went to the river’s edge, and with tears in his eyes took darshan of the Ganges, offering his obeisances again and again. At that time, he entered the waters of the Ganges. After entering a short distance into the water he requested all the devotees to fill the four directions with the loud chanting of the holy name in Sankirtan. At that time, Sri Ramakrishna Acharya and Sri Ganganarayana Cakravarti began two kirtans in two different places. In the midst of the all this, Narottama Thakura told two of them, "Pour the waters of the Ganges over my body." Saying this, everyone was immersed in the waves of Sankirtan.
As the kirtan went on they were just ready to take pour Ganges water over the body of Sri Narottama Thakura, when just at that moment Srila Narottama Das Thakura, who was absorbed in chanting the holy name in Sankirtana, merged into the waters of the Ganges and vanished from worldly view. His disappearance day is celebrated on the Krishna Panchami day of the month of Karttika.
More Prayers and Quotes: Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura
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