SRILA NAROTTAMA DAS THAKURA: Appearance Day
Srila Narottama Thakura was a prince. He was the son of very famous king in that area. From childhood he had impressions of pure devotion and wanted to cultivate them. He therefore went to Vrndavana, where he heard about the glory of Sri Jiva Gosvami and became attracted to him.
Together with Syamananda and Srinivasa, he studied all the sastras from Jiva Gosvami – Vedanta-sutra, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and especially the Six Sandarbhas. In this way, the three of them became learned in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Gaudiya siddhantas.
Took initiation from Lokanath Dasa Goswami. Lokanatha dasa Gosvami was a topmost elevated Vaisnava.
akumara-brahmacari sarva-tirtha-darshi
parama-bhagavatottamah srila-narottama-dasa
“A brahmachari for his entire life, Narottama Das visited all the places of pilgrimage. He was on the highest platform of devotional achievement.” (Bhakti-ratnakara 1.256)
Narottama Thakur was Champaka Manjari in Krishna-lila. Eternally assisting Rupa Manjari in her service to Radha and Krishna, Champaka Manjari had mercy on the conditioned souls of this earth and appeared as Narottama in the village of Kheturi, in the Rajshahi district of Bengal. This took place on the full moon day of the month of Magha, sometime around the middle of the 15th century of the Shaka era.
Narottama Dasa is best known for his devotional poetry wherein he describes emotionally intense feelings towards Radha and
Krishna.
His prayers ‘Sri Rupa Manjari Pada’ and ‘Sri Guru Carana Padma’ are still sung in all ISKCON temples daily. “The prayers of Narottama dasa Thakura,” Srila Prabhupada has said, “This sound is above the material platform. It is directly from the spiritual platform. And there is no need of understanding the language. It is just like a thunderburst. Everyone can hear the sound of thunder-there is no misunderstanding. Similarly, these songs are above the material platform, and they crack like thunder within your heart.”
He remains a symbol of compassion and an icon of reference in our Brahmha Madhva Gaudiya disciplic succession. All glories to Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura.
His pushpa samadhi is in Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda’s temple courtyard. A garland, kaupins, cloth, and mala form the contents of Narottama Dasa’s pushpa Samadhi.
Narottama, had such forgiving compassion, he embraced even the cast brahmanas who blasphemed him as a sudra. He remains a symbol of compassion and an icon of reference in our Brahmha Madhva Gaudiya disciplic succession. All glories to Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura.
Srila Narottama Das Thakura: Disappearance Day
Narottama Thakur was Champaka Manjari in Krishna-lila. Eternally assisting Rupa Manjari in her service to Radha and Krishna, Champaka Manjari had mercy on the conditioned souls of this earth and appeared as Narottama.
From childhood he had impressions of pure devotion and wanted to cultivate them. He therefore went to Vrndavana, where he heard about the glory of Sri Jiva Goswami and became attracted to him. Together with Syamananda and Srinivasa, he studied all the sastras from Jiva Goswami – Vedanta-sutra, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and especially the Six Sandarbhas. In this way, the three of them became learned in Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Gaudiya siddhantas.
Took initiation from Lokanath Dasa Goswami. Lokanatha Dasa Goswami was a topmost elevated Vaisnava.
Narottama Dasa is best known for his devotional poetry wherein he describes emotionally intense feelings towards Radha and Krishna. His prayers ‘Sri Rupa Manjari Pada’ and ‘Sri Guru Carana Padma’ are still sung in all ISKCON temples daily.
On the fifth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Karttika, he entered into the eternal pastimes of the Lord.
Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura’s disappearance is as extraordinary as his life. At the time of leaving this world, his body is said to have turned into milk and merged into the Ganges, demonstrating his complete transcendence and union with the Divine. His sacred tomb, called the Doodh Samadhi, continues to be a site of pilgrimage and inspiration for devotees.
His pushpa samadhi is in Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda’s temple courtyard. He remains a symbol of compassion and an icon of reference in our Brahmha Madhva Gaudiya disciplic succession.
On this day, let us pray to Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura to inspire us in our spiritual practice, deepen our love for Krishna, and guide us in selfless devotional service.
Narottama Das Thakur Ki Jai!!!
