SRILA SARANGA THAKURA Disappearance- 23rd Nov

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SRILA SARANGA THAKURA:

 

An important branch of the Sri Caitanya tree, Sri Saranga Thakura (Saranga

Murari) lived in Mamagacchi , Modadrumadvipa (Navadvipa). Staying under a

Bakula tree, Saranga Thakura worked hard every day to please his worshipable

Deity. Singlehandedly, he would collect fruits, vegetables and firewood. He

would also beg rice, cook, bathe, dress, and feed his Lord. After a full day of

Deity service Saranga would cross the Ganges River to join Mahaprabhu's

Hari-Nama sankirtana party in Mayapur.

 

During one visit, Lord Gauranga noticed that Saranga's beloved Bakula tree was

drying up and almost dead. Lord Caitanya embraced the tree with His beautiful

golden arms. Completely rejunvenated, the tree burst forth with green leaves

and fresh super fragrant flowers. To to this day, devotees of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu worship this special kalpa vrksa tree of Sri Dhama Mayapur. Some

devotees collect small pieces of wood, which occasionally fall off, and make

neckbeads or worship it.

 

Saranga Thakura vowed to never initiate disciples despite Lord Caitanya's

insistence. One day he relented and decided to initiate the first person he

saw. While bathing in the Ganges he brushed against a floating corpse. Suddenly

it sprang to life. Stunned, the man slowly identified himself and bowed down to

Saranga Thakura who had just miraculously renewed his life. After giving him

mantra diksa, Saranga Thakura became famous as "Saranga Murari Thakura,"

because the disciple's previous name was Murari.

 

In Vraja lila Saranga serves Radha-Gopinatha as the famous Nandimukhi sakhi. By

taking a forty five minute riksaw ride from downtown Navadvipa, you can still

see the Deities of Saranga Thakura and the kalpa-vrksa Bakula tree.

 

Bhagavatacarya Thakura Sarangadasa belonged to the sakha of Lord

Caitanya (CC. 1.10.113). In Vrajalila he was Nandimukhi (GGD. 172). He was

born in Budhan, according to Abhirama he was from Kulia. His samadhi remains

at Garbeta in the district of Midnapore. His Sripata was located at Jannagar

or Mavigachi.

 

On one occasion, after reprimanding Devananda Pandita, Lord Gauranga was

on His way home, accompanied by Srivasa Pandita, when he came across

Sarangadeva. Lord Gauranga asked Sarangadeva why had never initiated any

disciples. Sarangadeva replied that he had not found any suitable person. Lord

Gauranga blessed him saying, "Whoever you shall choose as a disciple will be

most suitable." Sarangadeva answered, "As you command, I shall initiate the

first person I see tomorrow," and then offered his humble obeisances and took

leave of the Lord.

 

The following morning while taking bath in the Ganges he saw the corpse

of a young boy floating in the river. This boy had died of snake-bite on the

day he had undergone the sacred-thread ceremony. As was the custom of the

time, he was thrown into the river instead of being cremated. It was later

learned that the boys name was Murari.

 

Obeying the order of Lord Gauranga, Saranga gave diksa to the dead

boy. Upon hearing the diksa-mantra, the boy regained his life.

 

When the parents of Murari heard that their son was alive they rushed

to Sarangadeva to take back Murari, but Murari refused to go with them and

vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to the service of Saranga. Later,

Murari became well-known as Thakura Murari. Descendants of his family line

live at Sar village in Burdwan. The Deity service started by Murari still

continue beneath a very old Bakul tree in Mamgachi village.