Srila Prabhupada cites Sri Narottama dasa Thakura
Letters : 1968 Correspondence : February : Letter to: Upendra — Los Angeles 13 February, 1968 : 68-02-13 :
My Guru Maharaja was in the 10th generation from Lord Caitanya. We are 11th from Lord Caitanya. The disciplic succession is as follows: 1. Sri Krishna, 2. Brahma, 3. Narada, 4. Vyasa, 5. Madhva, 6. Padmanabha, 7. Nrihari, 8. Madhava, 9. Akshobhya, 10. Jayatirtha, 11. Jnanasindhu, 12. Purusottama, 13. Vidyanidhi, 14. Rajendra, 15. Jayadharma, 16. Purusottama, 17. Vyasatirtha, 18. Laksmipati, 19. Madhavendra Puri, 20. Isvara Puri (Advaita, Nityananda) 21. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, 22. (Svarupa, Sanatana) Rupa, 23.(Jiva) Raghunath, 24. Krishna dasa, 25. Narottama, 26. Visvanatha, 27. (Baladeva.) Jagannatha, 28. (Bhaktivinode) Gaura-kisora, 29. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Sri Barshabhanavidayitadas, 30. Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta.
Conversations : 1977 Conversations : January, 1977 : Morning Walk — January 8, 1977, Bombay : 770108mw.bom :
Prabhupada: The ignorance of law… Why? Why this human form of life? To know. Why you do not try to know it? Then you must be punished. Krishna said, asraddhadhanah purusa. “If you are neglectful to know,” dharmasyasya parantapa, “this dharma, this science, this duty, what I am giving…” Asraddadhanah: “Eh! Bhagavad-gita is…” Asraddadhanah. There is no sraddha. Rascals. “Then the result will be mam aprapya. He does not get Me.” Then what is next? Nivartante: “He goes back.”
Where? Mrtyu-samsara-vartmani: [Bg. 9.3] “Again in the cycle of birth and death, birth and death.” Again, after millions and millions of years, he’ll come, again get the chance of human body, another chance to know. So this is the chance to know. You cannot expect the dog will know, the cat will know. You have got human being. You must know.
The signboard, “Keep to the left,” is meant for the human being. If the dog goes from right to the left, he is not to be punished, because he has no knowledge. This is common sense. But you cannot neglect. You are human being. You cannot say, “I did not see the signboard.
I did not know the law. Therefore, by chance, I have violated.” No. No “by chance.” You must be punished. This is the responsibility of… Narottama dasa Thakura, therefore, sings, hari hari bifale, janama gonainu: “I have wasted my time.” How? Manusya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya: “I got this human form of life. I did not know what is Radha-Krishna.”
Janiya suniya visa khainu: “Knowingly, I have taken poison.” A human being, if he does not become Krishna conscious, that means knowingly, he is taking poison, and he must die. Janiya suniya visa khainu. Sometimes I do not know what is poison. Just like child does not know. He may take. But he’ll not be excused. Even a child takes poison, it does not mean the nature’s law will excuse him. No. But…. What to speak of child, a human being, if he takes poison, janiya suniya, then what is to be…?
So in the human form of life, you cannot neglect the instruction of Bhagavan. Then you’ll be punished. Severe punishment. Tan aham dvisatah kruran ksipamy ajasram andha-yonisu [Bg. 16.19].
Conversations : 1976 Conversations : September, 1976 : Room Conversation — September 5, 1976, Vrndavana : 760905rc.vrn :
Narottama dasa Thakura is hankering, “When I shall understand about Radha-kunda, Radha-Krishna’s prema? Such liberated great devotees, acaryas, they are hankering. Rupa-raghunatha-pade hoibe akuti, kabe hama bujhabo. When I shall understand? And they have understood immediately everything. (Hindi) That is solved. Not so easy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us the facility.
Conversations : 1976 Conversations : September, 1976 : Room Conversation — September 5, 1976, Vrndavana : 760905rc.vrn :
That should be our prayer. When Rupa Gosvami, who has established the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when I shall get shelter of his lotus feet. And that is… Narottama dasa Thakura prays, tandera carana-sebi. Tandera means the six Gosvamis. Ei chay gosai yanr tanr mui das.
I’m servant of that person who is engaged in the service of the six Gosvamis. And we pray to our Guru Maharaja, rupanuga-viruddhapasiddhanta-dhvanta-harine. Anyone who is going against the decision of Rupa Gosvami, reject him. Rupanuga-viruddhapasiddhanta-dhvanta. This is our process. Ei chay gosai yanr
Conversations : 1976 Conversations : July, 1976 : Room Conversation — July 31, 1976, New Mayapur (French farm) : 760731RC.NMR :
Prabhupada: No, he has to live in that way. That is his destiny. You cannot change it by artificial ways. Even if he has got all the facilities, he will have to live like that. That is nature. Karanam guna sango ‘sya sad-asad janma yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. This is… So therefore there is no use of so-called improvement.
And you cannot do it. This is a fact. Tasyaiva hetoh prayeteta kovido. Find out this verse. Na labhyate yad bhramatam upary. Your standard of happiness and distress must be there because you are destined by the laws of nature.
You have to suffer although you are born in America. In New York you can get very comfortable life there; still, you have lie down on the bench, lie down. Although you are born of a rich man’s family, you have to become hippies, lie down here. Who can check this? What is that law. Do they know it? But there is a law.
There will be a first class, second class, third class, fourth class. You cannot check it. Huh? New York City? So cared for? Nasty road, streets. And always, every moment-dung dung dung dung dung dung dung dung, gu gu gu gu gu gu gu-fire. Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka. Fire is blazing.
Despite all arrangement, fire is blazing. How can you stop it? Narottama dasa Thakura said samsara-bisanale, dibanisi hiya jvale. The blazing fire of poison is always going on. Tarib
Conversations : 1976 Conversations : June, 1976 : Answers to a Questionnaire from Bhavan’s Journal — June 28, 1976, Vrndavana : 760628bj.nv :
Prabhupada: So that is not possible in this… Taking consideration of the time, circumstances, it is not possible. There are different kinds of karma-kandiya-yajna. It is expensive also and there is no expert brahmana to guide how to perform this yajna. So Kali-yuga, it is not possible to perform yajnas. Krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih [SB 12.3.52].
In the Treta-yuga yajnas were possible. Dvapare paricaryayam kalau tad dhari-kirtanat, that in this age of Kali-yuga the real yajna is hari-kirtana. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32]. Therefore those who are intelligent, having good brain substance, they take to this yajna, sankirtana-yajna.
And practically we are experiencing, simply by sankirtana-yajna, even the lowest person in the sinful activities, he is becoming purified. So karma-kanda is, to revive them in this age is not possible. Neither jnana-kanda. That is also not possible. People are so fool and rascal that it is impossible.
Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura said… He has condemned karma-kanda, jnana-kanda. Even it is properly done. Karma-kanda, by performing ritualistic ceremonies of karma-kanda, you can go to the heavenly planet. But what is the benefit there? You can enjoy there materialistic way of life in higher standard. That’s all. You can live for a very, very long duration of period.
But that does not mean that you become immortal. The demigods, they are called amara. Amara means they have got very long duration of life. Does not mean he is immortal. So by karma-kanda you can elevate yourself to the higher planetary system. Even it is properly done… And now it is not possible to do it properly. And even it is properly done, that is condemned.
It is not required. Similarly jnana-kanda. Even it is properly done… You can merge yourself into the Brahman effulgence. But that is also not safe because in the sastra we see that aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adhah [SB 10.2.32].
Even one merges oneself into the impersonal Brahman, he again falls down. Patanty adhah. We have seen practical, in India many sannyasis, they elevate themselves by jnana-kanda, but because they cannot stay, they again come to the karma-kanda, philanthropy activities and hospitals and schools.
That is their fall down. So either in karma-kanda or jnana-kanda you cannot achieve the real purpose of life. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura has said, karma-kanda jnana-kanda sakali visera bandha. Either you accept karma-kanda or jnana-kanda, they’re different pots of poison. Amrta boliya jeba khai.
If by mistake you take poison, death is inevitable. Similarly, by karma-kanda, jnana-kanda nobody can derive any actual benefit. By upasana-kanda, that is the… The Vedas, Vedic ritualistic ceremony means there are three kandas: karma-kanda, jnana-kanda, and upasana-kanda. So upasana-kanda, there are recommendation of many, worship of many demigods.
But the best upasana is Visnupasana. Visnor aradhanam sarvesam. Visnor aradhanam param. Om tad visnum paramam padam. There are different types of upasana recommendation, but the visnor aradhanam, worshiping Lord Visnu, that is the Supreme. That is Supreme. So gradually, there is elevation to karma-kanda, jnana-kanda, upasana-kanda, but in the Kali-yuga all these things are not possible to revive.
Best directly give him the best upasana-kanda, Visnupasana, bhakti, everything will be automatically achieved by bhakti-marga.
Conversations : 1976 Conversations : June, 1976 : Prabhupada Visits Palace and Garden — June 22, 1976, New Vrindaban :
Kirtanananda: We are about to install your murti in that temple.
Prabhupada: Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau [SU 6.23]. The Vedic secret is that, para bhaktir, yasya deve, unto the Lord, similarly, to the guru, they, to them, the whole thing becomes revealed automatically. Vedic knowledge is grasped not by erudite scholarship. Mundane scholarship has nothing to do.
The secret is yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau. My Guru Maharaja wanted that some books should be published. So I tried my best, and he’s giving success more than expectation. In the history nobody has sold religion, philosophical books in such large quantity.
Pusta Krishna: Or quality.
Prabhupada: Yes. These are all Guru Maharaja’s blessings. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura is stressing on this point,
guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya,
ara na koriha mane asa **
Simply execute that. Krishna bhakti, krsna prapti haya yaha haite. You’ll get Krishna. (long pause) [break] Govinda, Gopinatha, Madana Mohana, Syamasundara, Radha-Damodara, Gokulananda, and…? Radha-Ramana. The same thing, Gaudiya-Vaisnava. Then other Vaisnavas came, Ranganatha, Ramanuja.
Conversations : 1976 Conversations : March, 1976 : Morning Walk — March 26, 1976, Delhi :
Prabhupada: Yes. No, that is natural and everything else unnatural. The principle of loving Krishna is distributed in so many ways. Instead of loving Krishna, loving so many nonsense things, and we are becoming implicated. The principle is love, but instead of loving the right person, you are loving so many things. Hm?
Cyavana: Growing wild.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Dayananda: You told me, “What is the use of becoming a pandita?” So the other day I was in one shop, and the man was asking me about Krishna consciousness, one of the shop owners. So I told him one verse, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. He did not know it, but he called over one of his employees. He was a pandita. He was working in the shop as a salesman. So I was thinking that he has become a pandita.
Prabhupada: Become a salesman.
Dayananda: But he’s just working in the shop as a salesman.
Prabhupada: And he has become a servant of a person who does not know Sanskrit.
Dayananda: Yes, he does not know anything, but he has become servant.
Guru dasa: [break] …about some other panditas who wanted to get Narottama dasa Thakura out of the town. So two of his students, one posed as a betel seller and one as a potter. And when the men came to take, kick Narottama dasa Thakura out of the town, they first stopped to get some betel. And the betel seller was quoting Sanskrit verses, and then the potter was also quoting Sanskrit verses. So they thought, “If the betel seller and the potter of this town are such great panditas, what must Narottama dasa Thakura be like?” So they left the town immediately. [break] …Krishna. Krishna is the ability in man.
Prabhupada: Hm?
Guru dasa: Krishna is the ability in man. Krishna is the ability…
Prabhupada: Krishna is everything.
Conversations : 1975 Conversations : October, 1975 : Morning Walk — October 3, 1975, Mauritius : 751003mw.mau :
Prabhupada: Yes. Sangopangastra-parsadam. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura said, gaurangera sangi-gane, nitya-siddha kori mane: “All the associates of Lord Caitanya, they are ever liberated.” Nitya-siddha kori mane. “Anyone accepts the assistants of Lord Caitanya as ever liberated—he also becomes liberated, simply by accepting the associates of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is helping Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, simply by accepting this, the man who is accepting, he becomes liberated.” Se jay brajendra-nanda pas. Gaurangera sangi-gane, nitya-siddha kori mane, se jay brajendra-nanda pas.
Conversations : 1975 Conversations : April, 1975 : Morning Walk — April 8, 1975, Mayapur :
Jayadvaita: …names of Krishna as the spiritual master or the acaryas have chanted them, but sometimes I’ll hear that our devotees will be chanting Krishna’s name in different ways that I haven’t heard, in kirtana.
Prabhupada: I do not follow what you say.
Jayadvaita: Just like sometimes we’ll hear our men. They’ll be chanting… Like yesterday I heard that someone was chanting, “Nitai-Gaura, Nitai-Gaura, Nitai-Nitai-Gaura.” Like that, I’ll hear different mantras. Someone is chanting: “Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe,” like that, at kirtana.
Prabhupada: Well, that is not done by the acaryas. But there is no harm chanting “Radhe.” But sometimes it is degraded to make something new, invention. Therefore better to stick to “Hare Krishna” and to “Sri-Krishna Caitanya Prabhupada-Nityananda.” Otherwise… Just like the sahajiyas, they have invented: “Nitai-Gaura Radhe Syama, Hare Krishna Hare Rama.” These things will come gradually.
But they are not approved. They are called chara kirtana (?), means “concocted kirtana.” But there is no harm chanting “Radhe, Nitai-Gaura.” So better stick to this Panca-tattva, and maha-mantra. Just like “Nitai Gaura Radhe Syama, Hare Krishna Hare Rama.” There is “Nitai-Gaura, Radhe Syama,” but it is not approved. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. We have to follow the mahajana. In Caitanya-caritamrta you’ll find “Sri-Krishna-Caitanya Prabhu-Nityananda, Sri-Advaita Gadadhara…,” never “Nitai Gaura, Radhe Syama.” So why should we do that?
Jayapataka: The concocter of the “Nitai Gaura Radhe Syama,” previously he was a follower of Bhaktisiddhanta, but then he was rejected, and then he started his own camp.
Prabhupada: No, yes, he was meeting Bhaktivinoda Thakura. So… What is called? Carana dasa Babaji.
Satsvarupa: Srila Prabhupada, sometimes during arati, many bona fide bhajanas are sung, but not much Hare Krishna. Is that not a good tendency, that maybe just two or three minutes of Hare Krishna mantra and many other bhajanas?
Prabhupada: No. We should stick to Hare Krishna. Sri-Krishna-Caitanya Prabhu-Nityananda, jiva jago jiva jago…, these are authorized. But Hare Krishna is the maha-mantra. What is sung by mahajana, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Narottama dasa Thakura, that can be sung. [break]
Jayapataka: …you say is back to Godhead. But when one is situated in pure, transcendental love of Krishna, then that’s, then wherever he may be, that’s back to Godhead. Isn’t it?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Jayapataka: So then we should desire not to go back to Vaikuntha but to go back to…, to be situated in our pure service to Krishna.
Prabhupada: Yes. Pure devotee does not aspire anything, simply to be engaged in loving service of the Lord, wherever it may be. It doesn’t matter. [break]
Jayadvaita: …they know everything and they’re perfect in everything. But sometimes, from our material viewpoint, we see some discrepancies. Just like we think that…
Prabhupada: Because material viewpoint. The viewpoint is wrong; therefore you find discrepancies.
Jayadvaita: So we should think that we have the defect.
Prabhupada: Yes. Acarya is explained, bhakti-samsanah: “One who’s preaching the cult of devotional service, he’s acarya.” Then why should you find any discrepancy?
Jayadvaita: Because we see… For instance, sometimes the acarya may seem to forget something or not to know something, so from our point of view, if someone has forgotten, that is…
Prabhupada: No, no, no. Then…
Jayadvaita: …an imperfection.
Prabhupada: That is not the… Then you do not understand. Acarya is not God, omniscient. He is servant of God. His business is to preach bhakti cult. That is acarya.
Jayadvaita: And that is the perfection.
Prabhupada: That is the perfection. Hare Krishna.
Jayadvaita: So we have a misunderstanding about what perfection is?
Prabhupada: Yes. Perfection is here, how he is preaching bhakti cult. That’s all.
Satsvarupa: Srila Prabhupada, there’s also a question of reciprocation. You have so many disciples, thousands, and one devotee was asking me yesterday, “How does… I want to please Srila Prabhupada. How does he know my progress and my service because I’m…, when I’m so far away from him and if I don’t write him?”
Prabhupada: So his representatives are there, the president, the GBC. They will see.
Madhavananda: The representatives.
Jayadvaita: The representative may be there, but what is my personal relationship?
Prabhupada: Hm? To obey your spiritual master. Whatever he has said, you follow strictly. Follow the regulative principles. Chant sixteen rounds. That’s all.
Devotee (1): Prabhupada, when Srila Vyasadeva was lamenting after compiling so many Vedic literatures before compiling Srimad Bhagavatam, he said to his spiritual master, Narada Muni, that “You please enter within me and find out my deficiency. You are as good as the all-pervading Supersoul.”
Prabhupada: That is always the position of spiritual master, to find out the deficiency in the character of his disciple.
Conversations : 1973 Conversations : December, 1973 : Morning Walk — December 15, 1973, Los Angeles : 731215mw.la :
Prabhupada: When? Guru or… First of all, try to understand what is the meaning of guru. Guru means heavy. So one who knows more than you, or one who knows perfectly, that, he is guru. So if you know anything perfectly, then you are guru. But if you do not know anything perfectly, then you are not a guru. You are rascal.
So guru means one who knows perfectly. So if you find out somebody, that he knows everything perfectly, then he is guru. That is the first prayer of Gurvastaka. Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam.
Everyone is in the blazing fire of this material existence. It is just like forest fire. Just like if there is fire in the forest, all the inhabitants of forest, all the animals, they become so much in perturbed condition.
So guru means to rescue from this forest fire. So therefore it is said, ghanaghanatvam. A forest fire can be reduced or can be extinguished… Fire, there must be water. But wherefrom the water will come?
Your fire brigade, bucket full of water, will not save. The water must come from cloud. So therefore guru is the cloud. He has taken the mercy from the ocean, or from God, and he pours the mercy. Immediately the fire is extinguished, and you are saved.
This is the samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam, praptasya… **. One who has received mercy from the Supreme, he can save. Nobody can save. Your so-called fire brigade bucket or bucket full of water will not save. That is not possible.
So as these rascals are simply trying to extinguish the blazing fire of material existence by so-called bucketful of water, it will not save. It will be waste of time. If the cloud comes, then it will be saved. So guru is the cloud. That is… Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghana…. Ghanaghanatvam means cloud, dense cloud. As soon as there is dense cloud and pours water, finished, all blazing fire finished.
That is guru. And Narottama dasa Thakura says, somsara-bisanale dibanisi hiya jvale: “My heart is burning by the fire of this material existence.” Judaite na kainu upaya: “I did not make any arrangement for getting out of this fire.” Golokero prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana: “Now this hari-nama-sankirtana is coming from Goloka, from the spiritual world. I did not takes care of it.”
He is lamenting. So this is the fire extinguish instrument. Chant Hare Krishna in this age, and the fire will be extinguished. [break] …prema-dhana hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmilo kene taya. [break]
Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
Kayastha by caste, Narottama was the son of King Krishnananda Datta. Krishnananda was the Zamindar of Gopalpur Pargana in the Rajsahi district of Bangladesh. His capital was located at Kheturi, about a mile northeast of Prematali on the bank of the river Padma, about a distance of twelve miles northwest of Rampur Boalia. Narayani devi was Narottama’s mother.
Narottama was born about the middle of the fifteenth Saka century (Bhaktiratnakara 1.466-468). From his childhood he was extremely attracted to Lord Caitanya. According to some, after the disappearance of his father, Narottama entrusted his elder paternal uncle’s son, Santosa Datta, with the responsibility of the royal duties and left for Vrndavana.
Premavilasa 8 narrates as follows: One day while dancing in kirtana at Kanair Natsala village, Lord Caitanya suddenly began calling out the name, “Narottama, Narottama.” Tears streamed from the Lord’s eyes and He appeared to be restless.
After speaking with Nityananda Prabhu the Lord expressed His desire to visit Gaderhat on the bank of the Padma. Mahaprabhu explained to Nityananda that he wanted to deposit the treasure of love of Godhead on the bank of the Padma for Narottama to pick up later.
The river Padma then asked the Lord how she would be able to identity Narottama, and the Lord explained that the person whose touch would make her surge up would be none other than Narottama.
At the age of twelve Narottama had a dream in which Nityananda Prabhu appeared to him and commanded that he collect the prema which was left in the custody of the river Padma. Early in the morning Narottama went alone to the river Padma to take his bath. As soon as his feet touched her, the river surged forth.
Remembering the words of Lord Caitanya the Padma now transferred the treasure to Narottama.
Upon receiving this divine love Narottama’s bodily complexion changed. His parents tried every means by which keep him with them, but Narottama was drunk with the nectar of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda and could not be kept in check. Leaving behind all worldly bondage Narottama rushed for Vrndavana.
Premavilasa 11 explains how Narottama was comforted by the divine touch of Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami, and how he received the grace of his spiritual master Lokanatha Gosvami.
After Narottama was initiated by Lokanatha Gosvami, he received all instructions regarding the practice of spiritual life. Narottama was spiritually named Campakamanjari.
With the approval of the local Vaisnavas, Jiva Gosvami deputed Srinivasa, Narottama and Syamananda to carry the Gosvamis books to the devotees in Gauda. Although they were properly escorted by protected vehicles and guards, the books were stolen near Vanavisnupur. Srinivasa then sent Narottama to Kheturi and Syamananda to Utkala.
Narottama is widely believed to be the incarnation of Nityananda Prabhu. Narottama established his asrama, named Bhajantuli, about two miles away from the capital of Kheturi. Sometime after his return from Vrndavana, Narottama installed six Deities; Lord Gauranga, Vallabhikanta, Lord Krishna, Lord Vrajamohan, Lord Radhamohan and Lord Radhakanta.
On the occasion of this installation ceremony Narottama held a grand festival at Kheturi, which is famous amongst all Vaisnavas.
Narottama was the first exponent of the Garanhati tradition of kirtana. He arranged this musical tradition in a way as to accommodate all parsada (associates) of both prakata and aprakata lila of Lord Gauranga, which gave immense pleasure to the audience.
Narottama Thakura was always engaged in the singing the glories of Sri Gaura and Nityananda. Through his preaching many fallen souls were purified.
Ramacandra Kaviraja was a very close companion of Narottama throughout his life (see Bhaktiratnakara and Narottamavilasa for details on Narottama’s biography).
Among the writings of Narottama, Prarthana and Premabhakticandrika are the most well-known. The brief write-up titled ‘Hatapaltana’ is also attributed to Narottama but the contents do not seem to be in harmony with historical events and thus some believe that it is a fake work.
From evidence in older manuscripts Haridasa dasa has concluded that the real author was one Ramesvara dasa. Some argue that Narottama wrote Siddhabhakticandrika, Sadhyapremabhakti, Camatkara candrika, etc., but these are not published works and the few mss. which are available do not seem to be in Narottama’s writing style.
Narottama did translate Smaranamangala into Bengali verse. In eleven slokas this work describes the pastimes of Radha Krishna in eight parts of the day (astakaliya).
See the following Bengali books for further information on Narottama:
1. Narottama dasa O Tahar Racamavali by Niradprasad Nath, Calcutta University, Calcutta.
2. Narottama Dasa by Rammohan Mallik
3. Narottama Thakura Kheturir Nitai by Narendranath Cattopadhyay
4. Narottama-lila va Sri Gaura Premavatara by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami
The following is a narration describing the disappearance of Thakura Mahasaya:
After taking permission from Narottama, Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja went to Sri Vrndavana, a few months thereafter he breathed his last. When Srinivasa Acarya heard this he could not bear the shock and after a few days he too disappeared. When this news reached Srila Thakura, he was overwhelmed with grief and began singing in a choked voice.
He gathered all the devotees around him in the temple of Sri Mahaprabhu and started sankirtana. Slowly the sankirtana party proceeded to the bank of the Ganga.
With eyes full of tears, Narottama fell prostrate on the ground and entered into the Ganga to take bath. Sitting knee deep in the water he continued singing loudly, along with Sri Ramakrsna Acarya and Sri Ganganarayana Cakravarti.
Narottama requested that they massage his body as he continued singing. As they massaged him, Thakura Mahasaya’s body simply merged with the sacred water of the Ganga. Thus on the fifth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Karttika (Oct.-Nov.) he entered into the eternal pastimes of the Lord.
http://veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/parampara3.htm
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 Krishna’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 Krishna.
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 Krishna 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.
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