Vrndavana Dasa Thakura

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Hare Krishna,

 

 

 

PAMHO, AGTSP

 

 

 

One will receive the mercy of the Goswamis and compassionate followers of

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by obtaining their association. That association is

available in their books, in the books describing their activities, in the line

of their followers, and in their samadhis sitting in Vrndavana. Remembering the

Supreme Lord Krishna and His pure devotees is a powerful form of devotional

service called smaranam. Hence, a devotee will make spiritual advancement

simply by remembering and praying for the mercy of the departed Vaisnavas. The

mercy of the Vaisnavas is absolutely essential in order to attain the goal of

human life i.e. eternal service to Sri Sri Radha Krishna.'

 

 

 

One becomes purified of material contamination and attains love of Godhead by

chanting the holy names of Lord Sri Krishna and Sri Krishna Caitanya. Because

the Lord and His pure devotees are non-different, one also becomes free from

sinful reactions and spiritually elevated by chanting the names of Lord

Caitanya's loving associates. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja confirms this in

Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi Lila 12:92,

 

"Yan-saba smarane pai Caitanya-carana, yan-saba-smarane haya vanchita purana,"

 

Simply by remembering the names of Lord Gauranga's eternal associates, one gets

the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and all his desires become

fulfilled.

 

 

 

One must take shelter at the lotus feet of a devotee mahatma and treat him as

the most exalted well-wisher of all human society. We should take shelter of

such a mahatma and ask for his causeless mercy. Only by his benediction can one

be relived from attachment to the materialistic way of life. C.C. Madhya Lila

22:51 "mahat-krpa vina kona karme bhakti naya Krsna-bhakti dure rahu, samsara

nahe kasya"- unless one is favoured by a pure devotee, one cannot attain the

platform of devotional service. To say nothing of Krishna bhakti, one cannot

even be relived from the bondage of material existence.

 

 

 

On 14th April is the disappearance day of Sri Vrndavana Dasa Thakura. Kindly

glorify him by reading his short biography and ask for his causeless mercy.

 

 

 

Sri Sri Vrndavana Dasa Thakura ki jai jai !!!

 

 

 

Your servant in mission of Srila Prabhupada.

 

 

 

Nanda Gopal dasa

 

 

 

 

 

Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura

 

 

In her childhood, Narayani Devi, Niece of Srivasa Pandit, became mad with love

of God upon receiving the mercy of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Later she gave

birth to Vrndavana Dasa, who was the last disciple of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. On

his guru's order he wrote Sri Caitanya Bhagavata.

 

 

 

It is practically a law among Vaisnava writers like Sri Rupa Goswami, Sri

Sanatana Goswami, Krishna Dasa Kaviraja and Vrndavana Dasa Thakura to always

keep them in the background. They never mention anything about their family

linage or personal history. The authors of the best-written and most

relish-able verses collected in Sri Rupa Goswami's Padyavali remain unknown.

 

 

 

During the sixteen-century, entire books of exceptional transcendental prose

and poetry were penned by prideless Vaisnavas preferring to remain anonymous.

Feeling utmost humility, such Vaisnava writers express themselves only in

relation to their preceptors. Krishna Dasa Kaviraja glorifies his gurus at the

end of each chapter of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: 'srirupa raghunatha-pade yare

asa, Caitanya-caritamrata kahe krsnadasa.'

 

'Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring

their mercy, I, Krishna Dasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in

their footsteps.'

 

 

 

Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami shows his supreme homage and gratitude by

honouring Vrndavana Dasa Thakura with the appellation 'Vyasa' in the

Caitanya-caritamrta Antya Lila 20:82 'Vrndavana Dasa Thakura is Lord

Nityananda's favourite devotee. And therefore he is the original Vyasadeva in

describing the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.' As Srila Vyasadeva told

Sri Krishna's pastimes in Bhagavatam and other Puranasa, Srila Vrndavana Dasa

Thakura described Caitanya Lila in Caitanya Bhagavata.

 

 

 

The humble heart of Krishna Dasa Kaviraja pours out more praises of Vrndavana

Dasa Thakura: 'Hearing Caitanya Bhagavata destroys all misfortune. By reading

Caitanya Bhagavata one will understand the glories of Lord Caitanya and Lord

Nityananda and he will attain the highest perfection of knowledge-pure love of

Krishna.' 'Since such a wonderful book could not be written by a human being,

it seems that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself has spoken it through the mouth

of Srila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura. I offer millions of respectful obeisances to

the lotus feet of Vrndavana Dasa Thakura. By compiling such a valuable book he

has delivered everyone from the cycle of birth and death.'- CC Adi Lila

8:33-42.

 

 

 

As Vyäsadeva has compiled all the pastimes of Lord Kåñëa in Çrémad-Bhägavatam,

Öhäkura Våndävana däsa has depicted the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Öhäkura

Våndävana däsa has composed Çré Caitanya-maìgala. Hearing this book annihilates

all misfortune. By reading Çré Caitanya-maìgala one can understand all the

glories and truths of Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda and come to the ultimate

conclusion of devotional service to Lord Kåñëa. In Çré Caitanya-maìgala [later

known as Çré Caitanya-bhägavata] Çréla Våndävana däsa Öhäkura has given the

conclusion and essence of devotional service by quoting the authoritative

statements of Çrémad-Bhägavatam. If even a great atheist hears Çré

Caitanya-maìgala, he immediately becomes a great devotee. The subject matter of

this book is so sublime that it appears that Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu has

personally spoken through the writings of Çré Våndävana däsa Öhäkura. I offer

millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Våndävana däsa Öhäkura. No one

else could write such a wonderful book for the deliverance of all fallen souls.

 

 

 

'sahaje vicitra madhura Caitanya-vihara, Vrndavana dasa mukhe amrtera dhara.'

 

By nature all the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are very wonderful and

sweet, and when they are described by Vrndavana Dasa Thakura they become like a

shower of nectar.'CC

 

 

 

At Mamagacchi in Modadrumadvipa (Navadvipa), Vrndavana Dasa Thakura established

Deities of Nitai-Gauranga and Sri Jaganntha Deva. He lived there as a celibate

and worshiped his beloved Deities. Vrndavana Dasa Thakura had many disciples

including Gopinatha Brahmacari, a descendent of Sri Kesava Bharati.

 

 

 

In Krishna's pastimes Vrndavana Dasa Thakura is Srila Vyasadeva. His samadhi is

in the 64 samadhi area.