Srila Purusottama Das Thakura's Appearance - 27th Feb 2001

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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.]