Disappearance of Narottama Dasa Thakura & Astaka

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One day, sitting in a lonely place, Thakura Mahasaya and Ramacandra discussed

something secret. Ramacandra Kaviraja after soetimes went to Yajigrama with

a perturbed mind. A message came from Yajigrama that Sri Acarya Thakura had

gone to Vrndavana with Ramacandra Kaviraja. Who could understand the mind of

those two?

 

One day Sri Mahasaya could not control his mind and began to lament for some

unprecedented happenings. He began to sing:

 

"The associates of Gauranga are Srinivasa, Gadadhara, Narahari, Mukunda,

Murari. Svarupa Damodara, Haridasa, Vakresvara are possessors of divine love.

The sports what they had performed could melt the stone, but how unforunate I

am for not able to witness them. I failed to be born at that time and remained

ignorant, how can I forget this sorrow? Prabhu Sanatana, Rupa, Raghunatha

Bhatta, Bhugarbha, Sri Jiva, Lokanatha, all these Prabhus did beautiful sports

in Vrndavana with other devotees. Now all of them have disapeared, leaving this

world empty, my eyes have become blind to whom I shall disclose my sorrow? Thus

I am living like an animal. Acarya Srinivasa to whom I got the refuge and whose

words used to cool my mind, he also has left me, and Ramacandra is absent, how

can I live without them? The sorrows which I am bearing in my mind, cannot be

told to others. So I have lost interest in my own life. The food I used to eat

is just like poison to me, yet I am still living. Then what is the value of

Narottama dasa?"

 

At that moment, the news came to him that Ramacandra Kaviraja had disappeared

from the world. Sri Thakura Mahasaya completely broke down and ran to a dense

forest. He began to cry loudly and lamented for Ramacandra. His voice became

chocked and he fell on the ground. King Narasimha, Rupanarayana, Sri Govinda,

Santosa could do nothing to pacify him. They could only cry along with Thakura

Mahasaya. Due to the wish of Prabhu, he pacified himself after a long time.

After 5-7 days, he decided to go for a bath in the Ganges. So some of his

disciples very carefully took him to Vudhuri and from there to Gamvila near the

bank of the Ganges. Suddenly he got tremendous temperature and he ordered his

disciples to prepare a pyre for him. Then he remained completely silent. His

disciples became completely at a loss. Ganganarayana pacified others. Many

brahmana panditas came to meet him but he did not speak to them. In this state,

he spent three days. He remained detached from the people. His disciples bathed

him in the Ganges and placed him on a celestial seat on the pyre. The brahmanas

began to jeer at Narottama by saying in this way, "This is the result of his

effort of making brahmanas, his disicples. Now Narottama is dying after losing

the power of speaking. Ganganarayana being a brahmana has become his disciple

after discarding the customs of a brahmana. Now he is witnessing the condition

of his religious master. We don't know what is expecting for him also."

 

In this way, they began to throw the arrows of words towards Ganganarayana.

Instead of being angry, Ganganarayana felt sorry for those heretics. He came

and stood before the pyre with folded hands and prayed to Narottama, "You had

saved many heretics before. This time these heretics being ignorant of your

power, are criticising you. Your disciples are feeling very sad to hear their

bad words. Please be favorable to them and save them from damnation."

 

On hearing the helpless utterances of Ganganarayana Mahasaya again came back

into sense. He got up on the pyre uttering "Radhakrsna Caitanya" and came out

of the pyre shinning like the sun. The people around him began to shout

Haribola. Suddenly the gods began to shower flowers on him.

 

The now-believer brahmanas watching everything from distance became horrified.

They began to repent for their evil mentality. With tears in their eyes, they

fell on the feet of Ganganarayana and asked for mercy. Being moved by their

prayers, Ganganarayana went to Mahasaya and requested him to forgive those

brahmanas. The brahmanas then fell on the feet of Narottama and completely

surrendered themselves after confessing all their sins. Thakura Mahasaya became

so moved that he at once embraced them and empowered them with devotion. He

ordered them to study devotional books to Ganganarayana.

 

He then told everybody, "After few days I shall go to Khetari and you all

should go with me. Today I shall go to Vudhuri." Saying so he quickly took bath

in the Ganges. This incident spread all over the country. From the bank of the

Ganges, Mahasaya with others went to the house of Ganganarayana. There they ate

prasadam. Then he started for Vudhuri very gladly. He went back to Khetari with

Sri Govinda, Kaviraja, Karnapura, Kaviraja Gokula, Valabhi Majumdar and others

and remained engaged on the topics of Krsna. Narottama used to serve the

Prabhus all the time. Sometimes he used to roll in the dust of the courtyard of

Gauranga and used to pray to the Prabhu in this way, "Oh Lord Gauranga,

Vallabhi Kanta Krsna, be merciful to me like a materialist. Oh Lord,

Radhakanta, Sri Vrajamohana, let me get rid of the agonies of this material

world. Oh Lord Radharamana, let me lie under your feet and do help me to

remember you in this life and life after death." In this way, he used to lament

everyday.

 

In order to avoid crowd, he used to enter into the dense forest and cry out

loudly, "Oh Lord Gauranga Sundara, the moon of Navadvipa, oh Lord Nityananda,

son of Padmavati, oh Lord Advaita, the husband of Sita, oh Lord Sri Pandita

Gadadhara, the abode of love, oh Lord, Pandita Srivasa, the ocean of mercy, oh

lords Vakresvara, Sri Murari, Haridasa, Sri Svarupa, Ramananda, Damodara, Sri

Acarya Gopinatha, Kasisvara, oh lords Vacaspati, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, oh

lords Suryadasa, Gauridasa, oh Sri Pandita Jagadisa Suklamvara, oh Sri Govinda

Ghosa, Dasa Gadadhara, oh Pundarika Vidyanidhi Mahasaya, Mukunda, Madhava, Vasu

Ghosa, Dhananjaya, oh Sri Jagadananda, Sankara, Sridhara, oh Sri Mukunda,

Narahari, oh Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Sri Bhugarbha, Lokanatha, oh Sri Gopala

Bhatta, Raghunatha Bhatta, oh Svarupa Raghunatha, the dwellers of Sri Kunda, oh

Sri Jiva Gosvami and oh the devotees of Gaura Nityananda, be merciful to me, I

am at your feet. Don't neglect me because I am a sinner. Please fulfill my

desires."

 

With these prayers his eyes began to shed continuous tears. He began to roll on

the ground. He began to pray to Sri Govinda, Gopinatha, Madanamohana, Radha

Damodara, Sri Radharamana, Radhavinoda and the Queen of Vrndavana. He also

prayed to Lalita, Visakha, Sucitra, Sri Campakalatika, Rangadevi, Sudevi,

Tungavidya, Indulekha, Sri Rupamanjari, Ratimanjari, Kasturi, Lavangamanjari,

Manjulali to help him to stay under the feet of Radharani.

 

He prayed to Sri Radha, "Oh Sri Radharani, Krsna is yours, you are always

engaged in His service. Please give me the chance of worshipping You both.

I want to place you on a jewelled throne and I shall fan you at that time.

Being directed by the sakhis, I shall offer betel leaves to your moon-like

mouths. Will any desires be fulfilled?"

 

Saying so, he sighed. Then he tried to remember the sports of Gauranga with his

asociates in Nadia. Observing the restless state of mind of Thakura Mahasaya,

Sri Radhavallabha became very anxious. Sometimes Thakura Mahasaya used to

console his dear disciples and used to concentrate them in sankirtana. One day

he asked his disciples about the delay of Ganganarayana in coming to Khetari.

In the meantime, Ramakrsna and Ganganarayana came with those brahmanas. All of

them bowed to the feet of Thakura Mahasaya and expressed their desires of being

initiated by Thakura Mahasaya. Thakura Mahasaya became glad. He intitiated some

of them and some of them got initiation from Ganganarayana. After that, all of

them went to the courtyard of Gauranga. The priest gave them offered garlands.

Sri Govinda Kaviraja and others became satisfied to observe the sincere efforts

of the brahmanas. Sri Sankara Bhattacarya and other brahmanas very humbly bowed

to the feet of the Vaisnavas.

 

On the next day, a great festival took place. The brahmanas became mad in

sankirtana. One day, Mahasaya in the morning, began to shed tears helplessly

with fire-like sighs. He laid down on the ground for sometime and his lotus

face became dry. He with a chocked voice, began to lament in this way, "How

cruel is the providence to me, where Srinivasa has gone after giving me so much

pain? I had Ramacandra but he also had left me and I cannot hear a word from

him any longer. Can I have him again in my life, my life has become futile.

Svarupa, Rupa, Sanatana, Raghunatha, the merciful, and the Bhattas, be kind to

me. Acarya Srinivasa whose servant is Ramacandra, can I have them again?

Without observing their faces my heart is getting pierced, just like a doe

pierced by poisonous arrow. I kept some jewels hidden under my cloth, who has

stolen them why Narottama is suffering so much misery?"

 

Saying so, he kept mum and everyone became aware of some unforeseen incidents.

On knowing the state of mind of his dear disciples, Mahasaya consoled them all.

Thakura Mahasaya came to the courtyard of Gauranga and dedicated himself once

again to the feet of Prabhu. He started for Vudhuri with Govinda and others. He

stayed one day at Vudhuri and Sri Govinda Cakravarti and others came to meet

him. After talking very sweetly with them, Mahasaya spent the day and night in

sankirtana. From Vudhuri, he quickly moved to Gamvila.

 

After taking bath in the Ganges, he sat in the water and ordered Ramakrsna and

Ganganarayana to massage his body. But there was no chance of massaging his

body because only the touch of their hands, Thakura Mahasaya's body melted like

milk and vanished in the Ganges. Suddenly the river became turbulent. Everyone

became puzzled at this. The gods began to shower flowers from the heaven on

seeing this type of disappearance. The cry of Hari Hari filled the air. The

disciples of Sri Mahasaya went to the house of Ganganarayana and very patiently

they kept themselves calm and quiet. Sri Govinda Kaviraja and others quickly

arranged for a funeral ceremony at Gamvila. Then they went hastily to Khetari

via Vudhuri. There king Narasimha, Rupanarayana, Krsnasimha, Canda Raya, Sri

Gopiramana, Sri Govinda, King Santosa and others started preparations for

a great festival.

 

Due to the fear of exaggeration, I restrain myself from describing the festival

in toto but when they started sankirtana in the courtyard of Gauranga, within

a short time, Devidasa, Gauranga, Gokula, Sri Govinda Kaviraja and others

forgot

their own entities. They began to roll of the ground. They began to roar like

lions and they began to soak the ground with their tears. Suddenly due to the

favor of guru, Krsna and Vaisnavas, everyone witnessed Narottama dancing with

them. When he vanished everyone lost their patience. So Narotatma again

appeared and consoled them all. Who can realise the qualities of Thakura

Mahasaya?

 

>From Narottama Vilasa by Narahari dasa

Translated by Dravida dasa

 

Srila Narottama-prabhor-astaka

Eight Prayers Glorifying Srila Narottama dasa Thakura

By Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura

 

1 sri-krsna-namamrta-varsi-vaktra-

candra-prabha-dhvasta-tamo-bharaya

gaurangadevanucaraya tasmai

namo namah srila-narottamaya

 

I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, a sincere

follower of Lord Gaurangadeva. Emitting a shower of the nectar of the holy

name, with its splendour, the moon of His mouth destroys the darkness of

ignorance.

 

2 sankirtananandaja-manda-hasya

danta-dyuti-dyotita-dinmukhaya

svedasru-dhara-snapitaya tasmai

namo namah srila-narottamaya

 

I offer my respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. Blissful by

singing Krsna's glories, he would become bathed in streams of perspiration and

the splendour of his teeth and gentle smile would illuminate all directions.

 

3 mrdanga-nama-sruti-matra-cancat-

padambuja-dvandva-manoharaya

sadyah samudyat-pulakaya tasmai

namo namah srila-narottamaya

 

I offer my respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. Hearing the

mrdangas and the sound of the holy name, he would dance, moving his enchanting

lotus feet and the hairs of his body erect in ecstasy.

 

4 gandharva-garva-ksapana-svalasya-

vismapitasesa-krti-vrajaya

sva-srsta-gana-prathitaya tasmai

namo namah srila-narottamaya

 

I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. His dancing

dispelled the Gandharvas' pride. His devotional activities filled everyone

with wonder. His songs made Him famous.

5 ananda-murcchavani-pata-bhata-

dhuli-bharalankrta-vigrahaya

yad-darsanam bhagya-bharena tasmai

namo namah srila-narottamaya

I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. He would

sometimes faint in ecstasy and fall to the ground, his body decorated with

dust. The very fortunate would see him in that way.

 

6 sthale sthale yasya krpa-prabhabhih

krsnanya-trsna jana-samhatinam

nirmulita eva bhavanti tasmai

namo namah srila-narottamaya

 

I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. In place after

place the splendour of his mercy uprooted the people's thirst for anything

other than Krsna.

 

7 yad-bhakti-nisthopala-rekhikeva

sparsah punah sparsamaniva yasya

pramanyam evam srutivad yadiyam

tasmai namah srila-narottamaya

 

I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. His firm faith

in devotional service to Krsna is like a necklace of precious stones. His

touch is like a sparsamani jewel. His words are like the four Vedas.

 

8 murtaiva bhaktih kim ayam kim esa

vairagya-saras tanuman nr-loke

sambhavyate yah krtibhih sadaiva

tasmai namah srila narottamaya

 

I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. The devotees

always wonder: Is he devotional service personified? Is he the essence of

renunciation who has descended to the world of human beings in this form?

 

9 rajan-mrdanga-karatala-kalabhiramam

gauranga-gana-madhu-pana-bharabhiramam

sriman-narottama-padambuja-manju-nrtyam

bhrtyam krtarthayatu mam phalitesta-krtyam

 

May the dancing of Sri Narottama's lotus feet, which is graceful with the

melodious sounds of karatalas and mrdangas, and which is sweet with the honey

of Lord Gauranga, fulfil the spiritual desires of me, his servant.

 

Vaisnava dasabhas

Nayana-ranjana das