Govinda Ghosh

[Guest guest]

March 29th, 2003, Saturday (Dvadasi)

Break fast 05:36 - 09:48

(Daylight saving not considered)

 

Disappearance day of Sri Govinda Ghosh

 

SRI VASUDEVA GHOSA, SRI MADHAVA GHOSA and SRI GOVINDA GHOSA

 

govinda, madhava, vasudeva--tina bhai

yan-sabara kirtane nace caitanya-nitai

 

The three brothers Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva were the

eighty-second, eighty-third and eighty-fourth branches of the tree. Lord

Caitanya and Nityananda used to dance in their kirtana performances.

 

The three brothers, Sri Vasudeva Ghosa, Sri Madhava Ghosa and Sri

Govinda Ghosa were very expert singers. Sri Nityananda Prabhu Himself would

dance as they sang. [C.B. Antya 5.259]

 

According to some, their maternal uncle's house was in the village

of Buron (or Burangi) in Sylhet (Srihatta). Their father later took up

residence at Kumarahatta. After residing there for some time, the three

brothers came to live at Navadvipa.

 

They were born in the family of uttara-radhiya Kayasthas, and were

very intimate associates of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta

Sarasvati Thakur states that they are immediate expansions of Srimati

Radhika's body.

 

All three of them composed very sweet songs describing the lilas of

Sri Gaurasundara and Sri Krsna. They have particularly described the

childhood pastimes of Gaura Hari, His sankirtana pastimes and acceptance of

sannyasa, as well as descriptions of the beauty of Sri Nityananda prabhu.

 

According to Gaur-ganoddesa-dipika, Sri Govinda, Sri Madhava and Sri

Vasudeva were in Vraja-lila as Kalavati, Rasollasa and Guntinga (Guntungi)

Sakhis, who recited songs composed by Sri-Visakha-gopi. (Cc Adi 10.115)

 

Vasudeva and Madhava were sent with Nityananda to preach in Bengal.

Govinda stayed for some time with Mahaprabhu at Nilacala.

 

Every year they would come to Puri to see Mahaprabhu and perform

kirtana during Ratha-yatra. Later in life they took up residences at

different places. Sri Govinda lived in Agradvip, Sri Madhava in Dainhat and

Sri Vasudeva in Tamluk.

 

Sri Govinda Ghosa and the pinda-dan lila:

 

When Mahaprabhu set out for Sri Vrindavana from Nilacal with His

devotees, Govinda Ghosa was also present. There is an incident described by

one Acyutacarana Caudhuri. One day, Mahaprabhu, after accepting his noon

meal, extended his hand, thus requesting some hari-taki (dried fruit which

aids in digestion). Govinda immediately ran out to bring some from some

householders in the village near where they were staying.

 

The next day when Mahaprabhu similarly extended His hand after

lunch, Govinda again placed in it some hari-taki. Mahaprabhu looked at him

and inquired as to how he was able to provide it so quickly whereas

yesterday it had required some time to bring. Govinda replied that he had

kept some for Mahaprabhu from yesterday. Mahaprabhu said that since he was

saving things he should remain in that village and, becoming a householder,

he should worship Sri Gopinathaji there. As per the order of Mahaprabhu,

Govinda began to worship Gopinathji, and after marrying he had a son who

would also assist him in the worship of the Deity.

 

But his wife and then later his son passed on to the next world.

Govinda became very sad. In a fit of anger he lay down on his bed. He didn't

cook anything that day, neither he ate anything, neither did he offer

anything to Gopinathaji. In the night, Gopinatha came and began to massage

Govinda's legs. Then He asked him, "I don't understand your intelligence.

One of your sons dies, and you decide, "Whats the point in feeding the other

one let him die also."

 

Govinda replied, "I don't know what you're talking about. I had only

one son."

 

"Am I not also your son? You are feeding Me and taking care of Me as

your son. Now when I am dependent on you, you decide to neglect Me

altogether."

 

"Well, anyway, now there's no one to perform my sraddha and the

offering of pinda to my forefathers. Will You do that?"

 

"Yes, I can do it. Why not? So now will you give Me something to eat?"

 

Having heard Gopinatha's reply, Govinda was very happy and got up to

prepare an offering. To this day, the Deity dresses in a plain white cloth

and with a kusa grass ring on His finger, He offers pinda on the

disappearance day of Govinda Ghosa Thakura. Gopinathaji's temple is a

rickshaw ride away from Agradwip railway station on the Navadwip-Katwa line.

 

In Tamluk, at the Sripat of Vasudeva Ghosa Thakura, is a very

beautiful Deity of Mahaprabhu, standing with His hands in an interesting

mudra (pose), quite unlike any other Deity of Mahaprabhu anywhere else.

 

In this connection, there is a story. When Vasudeva Ghosa received

the news of Mahaprabhu's departure from this world, he promptly proceeded to

dig his own samadhi, and then sat down inside it, to wait for his final

breath. Mahaprabhu then appeared there, and with one hand He offered His

benediction, and with the other indicated that Vasudeva should get up out of

the hole. Tamluk can be reached from Mecheda station, on the

Calcutta-Kharagpur line, by bus. One should request to get down at

Jailkhamamor.