Sri Saranga Thakura

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

PAMHO, AGTSP

 

Although I don’t have any qualification to glorify the

pastimes of the Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu

and His associates, it is only your mercy that gives

me the courage and inspiration. Please forgive me for

any offense that I may have made as all I am doing is

coping directly from Caitanya-caritamrta. Kindly

glorify the pastimes of Sri Saranga Thakura on his

disappearance day.

 

Your servant in mission of Srila Prabhupada

 

Nanda Gopal Dasa

 

CC: Adi 10.113

TEXT

ramadasa, kavicandra, sri-gopaladasa

bhagavatacarya, thakura sarangadasa

TRANSLATION

The seventy-third branch of the original tree was

Ramadasa, the seventy-fourth was Kavicandra, the

seventy-fifth was Sri Gopala dasa, the seventy-sixth

was Bhagavata Acarya, and the seventy-seventh was

Thakura Saranga dasa.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his

Anubhasya, "In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (203) it is

said, `Bhagavata Acarya compiled a book entitled

Krsna-prema-tarangini, and he was the most beloved

devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.' When Lord Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited Varahanagara, now a suburb

of Calcutta, He stayed in the house of a most

fortunate brahmana who was a very learned scholar in

Bhagavata literature. As soon as this brahmana saw

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he began to read

Srimad-Bhagavatam. When Mahaprabhu heard his

explanation, which expounded bhakti-yoga, He

immediately became unconscious in ecstasy. Lord

Caitanya later said, `I have never heard such a nice

explanation of Srimad-Bhagavatam. I therefore

designate you Bhagavata Acarya. Your only duty is to

recite Srimad-Bhagavatam. That is My injunction.' His

real name was Raghunatha. His monastery, which is

situated in Varahanagara, about three and a half miles

north of Calcutta on the bank of the Ganges, still

exists, and it is managed by the initiated disciples

of the late Sri Ramadasa Babaji. Presently, however,

it is not as well managed as in the presence of Babaji

Maharaja.

"Another name of Thakura Saranga dasa was Sarnga

Thakura. Sometimes he was also called Sarngapani or

Sarngadhara. He was a resident of Navadvipa in the

neighborhood known as Modadruma-dvipa, and he used to

worship the Supreme Lord in a secluded place on the

bank of the Ganges. He was not accepting disciples,

but he was repeatedly being inspired from within by

the Supreme Personality of Godhead to do so. Thus one

morning he decided, `Whomever I see I shall make my

disciple.' When he went to the bank of the Ganges to

take his bath, by chance he saw a dead body floating

in the water, and he touched it with his feet. This

immediately brought the body to life, and Thakura

Saranga dasa accepted him as his disciple. This

disciple later became famous as Thakura Murari, and

his name is always associated with that of Sri

Saranga. His disciplic succession still inhabits the

village of Sar. There is a temple at Mamagachi that is

said to have been started by Saranga Thakura. Not long

ago, a new temple building was erected in front of a

bakula tree there, and it is now being managed by the

members of the Gaudiya Matha. It is said that the

management of the temple is now far better than

before. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (172) it is

stated that Saranga Thakura was formerly a gopi named

Nandimukhi. Some devotees say that he was formerly

Prahlada Maharaja, but Sri Kavi-karnapura says that

his father, Sivananda Sena, does not accept this

proposition."

 

CC: Adi 11.20

TEXT

murari-caitanya-dasera alaukika lila

vyaghra-gale cada mare, sarpa-sane khela

TRANSLATION

There were many extraordinary activities performed by

Murari, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Sometimes in his ecstasy he would slap the cheek of a

tiger, and sometimes he would play with a venomous

snake.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his

Anubhasya, "Murari Caitanya dasa was born in the

village of Sar-vrndavana-pura, which is situated about

two miles from the Galasi station on the Burdwan line.

When Murari Caitanya dasa came to Navadvipa, he

settled in the village of Modadruma, or

Mamagachi-grama. At that time he became known as

Sarnga or Saranga Murari Caitanya dasa. The

descendants of his family still reside in Sarer Pata.

In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda, Chapter Five,

there is the following statement: `Murari Caitanya

dasa had no material bodily features, for he was

completely spiritual. Thus he would sometimes chase

after tigers in the jungle and treat them just like

cats and dogs. He would slap the cheek of a tiger and

take a venomous snake on his lap. He had no fear for

his external body, of which he was completely

forgetful. He could spend all twenty-four hours of the

day chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra or speaking

about Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. Sometimes he would

remain submerged in water for two or three days, but

he would feel no bodily inconvenience. Thus he behaved

almost like stone or wood, but he always used his

energy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. No one

can describe his specific characteristics, but it is

understood that wherever Murari Caitanya dasa passed,

whoever was present would be enlightened in Krsna

consciousness simply by the atmosphere he created.'"

 

 

 

 

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