Today is the Apperance of Srila Purusottama Dasa Thakura

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130. Lord Krsna's cowherd friend Stokakrsna appeared in Lord Caitanya's

pastimes as Sri Purusottama das. (Gaura Gannodesa Dipika)

 

Cc Adi 11.38

 

sri-sadasiva kaviraja--bada mahasaya

sri-purusottama-dasa--tanhara tanaya

 

The twenty-third and twenty-fourth prominent devotees of Nityananda Prabhu

were Sadasiva Kaviraja and his son Purusottama dasa, who was the tenth

gopala.

 

TEXT 39

ajanma nimagna nityanandera carane

nirantara balya-lila kare krsna-sane

 

>From birth, Purusottama dasa was merged in the service of the lotus feet of

Lord Nityananda Prabhu, and he always engaged in childish play with Lord

Krsna.

 

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya, "Sadasiva

Kaviraja and Nagara Purusottama, who were father and son, are described in

the Caitanya-bhagavata as maha-bhagyavan, greatly fortunate. They belonged

to the vaidya caste of physicians. Text 156 of the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika

says that Candravali, a most beloved gopi of Krsna's, later took birth as

Sadasiva Kaviraja. In texts 194 and 200 it is said that Kamsari Sena, the

father of Sadasiva Kaviraja, was formerly the gopi named Ratnavali in

Krsna's pastimes. All the family members of Sadasiva Kaviraja were great

devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Purusottama dasa Thakura sometimes

lived at Sukhasagara, near the Cakadaha and Simurali railway stations. All

the Deities installed by Purusottama Thakura were formerly situated in

Beledanga-grama, but when the temple was destroyed the Deities were brought

to Sukhasagara. When that temple merged into the bed of the Ganges, the

Deities were brought with Jahnava-mata's Deity to Sahebadanga Bedigrama.

Since that place also has been destroyed, all the Deities are now situated

in the village named Candude-grama, which is situated one mile up from

Palapada, as referred to above."

 

TEXT 40

 

Sri Kanu Thakura, a very respectable gentleman, was the son of Purusottama

dasa Thakura. He was such a great devotee that Lord Krsna always lived in

his body.

 

[sri Purusottama Thakura had three main disciples: Sri Madhavacarya, Sri

Yadavacarya and Devakinandana dasa, who were born in Kulina brahmana

families. Madhavacarya married Nityananda Prabhu's daughter, Ganga-devi.

Devakinandana was the author of the book Vaisnav-vandane. Purusottama

Thakura's Sripat was previously at Sukhasagar. Now his Deities are at

Candriya Gram.

 

This temple is called Vasu-Jahnava Pat. Perhaps this is due

to the fact that Kanai Thakura, the son of Purusottama, was the adopted son

of Sri Jahnava. When Kanu Thakura was five, Jahnava Devi took him to

Vrindavana where the Goswamis joyously greeted him seeing the genuine

devotion].

 

[Krsna has four types of friends in Vrndavana:

1.) Suhrt - well-wishers

2.) Sakhas - friends

3.) Priya-sakhas - confidential friends

4.) Priya-narma-sakhas - most intimate friends

 

Stoka-krsna (Purusottama Dasa Thakura) is a Priya-sakha.

 

The more confidential friends are called priya-sakhas and are almost Krsna's

age. Because of their very confidential friendship, their behavior is only

on the basis of pure friendship. The behavior of other friends is on the

ground of parental love or servitude, but the basic principle of the

confidential friends is simply friendship on an equal level (pg. 324)."

Suhrts are older than Krsna. Consequently, parental love mixes with

their friendship. Sakhas are younger than Krsna. Thus, servitude mixes with

their friendship. Priya-sakhas, however, are the same age as Krsna. Their

friendship is perfectly on the level of equality. It is pure friendship

without any influence of parental affection or servitude.]

 

Your servant,

Nayana-ranjana das