Govinda Ghosh Thakura's Disappearance Festival At Agradvipa

[Guest guest]

Srila Govinda Ghosh Thakura is known for his most sweet kirtans at the annual Ratha-Yatra festival celebrated by Lord Caitanya at Jagannatha Puri.

 

He was born in a Kayastha family in the north Radhi clan. His Sripata was at Agradvipa. Also known as Ghosa Thakura, Govinda was the brother of the well-known Vaisnava poet Vasudeva Ghosh. Govinda belonged to the lineage of Lord Caitanya and was instrumental in installing the deity Sri Gopinatha at Agradvipa.

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“It is said that when the three brothers performed sankirtana, immediately Lord Caitanya and Nityananda would dance in ecstasy.”

 

 

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(CC. Adi 10.115, 118).

 

govinda, madhava, vasudeva--tina bhai

yan-sabara kirtane nace caitanya-nitai (115)

 

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.

 

PURPORT

 

The three brothers Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva Ghosa all belonged to a kayastha family. Govinda established the Gopinatha temple in Agradvipa, where he resided. Madhava Ghosa was expert in performing kirtana. No one within this world could compete with him. He was known as the singer of Vrndavana and was very dear to Sri Nityananda Prabhu. It is said that when the three brothers performed sankirtana, immediately Lord Caitanya and Nityananda would dance in ecstasy. According to the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (188), the three brothers were formerly Kalavati, Rasollasa and Gunatunga, who recited the songs composed by Sri Visakha-gopi. The three brothers were among one of the seven parties that performed kirtana when Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu attended the Ratha-yatra festival at Jagannatha Puri. Vakresvara Pandita was the chief dancer in their party.

 

ramadasa, madhava, ara vasudeva ghosa

prabhu-sange rahe govinda paiya santosa (118)

 

TRANSLATION

These three were Ramadasa, Madhava Ghosa and Vasudeva Ghosa. Govinda Ghosa, however, remained with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri and thus felt great satisfaction.

 

Among the three brothers, each had his Sripata as follows: Vasudeva at Tamluk, Madhava Ghosh at Dainhat, and Govinda at Agradvipa. According to Visvakosa, Ghosatha kura (Govinda) lived at Kasipur Visnutala near Agradvipa Some believe that he was born at Vasinavatala where to this day a number of Kayastha families holding the surname Ghosh, continue to live.

 

Govinda accompanied Lord Caitanya and His devotees when they left Nilacala for Vrndavana. "One day after finishing His lunch, Lord Caitanya looked for some mouth-freshener (a fruit called Haritaki). Govinda rushed to the village, collected some fruits,and offered one to the Lord. Upon receiving the fruit so promptly, Lord Caitanya glanced inquisitively after Govinda.

 

Understanding that Govinda had stored Haritaki, Lord Caitanya admonished him saying, "Govinda, since you have not been able to give up the habit of saving things, perhaps you had better stay back and take charge of installing the deity Gopinatha." Following the command of the Lord, Govinda continued to stay at Agradvipa. However, despite the Lord's reassuring words, he felt miserable to have been left behind by Lord Caitanya.

 

A few days later, when Ghosa Thakura was taking a dip in the Ganges, some floating object touched his back. It appeared to be some sort of wood, although considerably heavy. That night he received divine directions in a dream to preserve that piece of wood with care and to hand it over to Lord Caitanya when he arrived there. During the night when Govinda went to fetch the wood, he realized that it was a Krsnasila. The next morning Lord Caitanya turned up in Govinda's house and said, "Look here Govinda! You have nothing to worry about anymore. Tomorrow one sculptor will come here to chisel a deity from this sila and you should install that deity. The deity of Sri Gopinatha was thus installed.

 

Later, at the command of the Lord, Govinda married and continued to serve the deity jointly with his wife. Govinda was blessed with a son, however, both his wife and son passed away one after another. Govinda was so deeply grieved by the loss of his family that he stopped serving Gopinatha. Lord Krsna appeared to Govinda in a dream and asked him, "Govinda! Do you think it proper that when a person loses one son he should starve his other son to death also?"

 

To this Govinda replied, "It was my hope that had my son survived he would have performed the necessary rituals in remembrance of my deceased soul and those of my forefathers. Tell me, what do I gain by serving you?"

 

Lord Krsna explained, "I hereby promise to celebrate your death anniversary in a fitting manner forever. Now please can I have some food to eat?" Govinda was delighted to hear this and immediately returning to serving Gopinatha.

 

In course of time, when Govinda disappeared, Gopinathaji held kusagrass in His fingers to perform the sradh ceremony, a practice continued even today. Govinda left word during the last moments of his life that his body should not be cremated, but should be buried under the ground near Dolaprangana.

 

Srila Govinda Ghosh Thakura Ki Jay!

Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha Ki Jay!

Sri Agradvipa Festival Ki Jay!