Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura

Narottama Dasa Thakura was a lifelong brahmacari. He visited all the holy places and the was the best of
pure devotees. On the banks of the Padmavati river, in the town of Gopalpura lived King Krsnanda Datta.
His older brother was Purusottama Datta. In the month of Magha, onthe day of sukla-pancami, Sri
Narottama Dasa Thakura took his birth. Seeing many auspicious omens surrounding the birth of his son,
Raja Krsnananda was very pleased, and gave lavishly in charity to the brahmanas. The brahmanas, seeing
all the auspicious signs surrounding the child's birth, prophesied that the boy was a highly perfected soul
and great personality, by whose influence many people would be delivered.

Just as a crescent moon gradually becomes full the king's son grew more effulgent and beautiful with each
passing day. His bodily luster was just like molten gold. His eyes were large and shaped like lotus petals.
His arms extended to his knees and he had a deep navel. All these are the bodily symptoms of a
mahapurusa, a great personality. All the local townspeople used to gather to take darsana of the beautiful
and saintly child. Soon, the boy's anna-prasanna-samskara, or grain-eating ceremony was held. At that
time, in order to ensure auspiciousness and a bright future for his son, King Krsnananda gave much
charity.

As his schooling went on, everyone was astonished at his amazing intelligence. Simply by hearing a
subject once from his gurus he would commit it to memory. In only a short time, he mastered the study
of Sanskrit grammar, poetry, rhetoric, and became expert in many different scriptures. But gradually he
saw as useless any knowledge which did not promote Hari-bhajan, and soon lost interest in everything but
Krishna consciousness. Day after day, Narottama began to think of how he could become free from
family life and constantly engage himself in the Lord's service. In order to understand how to become
free from family life, Narottam das Thakura began to think day and night of how he could go to
Vrindavan. Narottama has prayed, "Hari Hari! kabe haba Vrindavanavasi?" O Hari, when will I become
a resident of Vrindavana? When will I serve the beautiful divine couple in Vrindavana with tears in my
eyes? In this way, Narottama would constantly sing. Seeing Narottama's indifference to all sense pleasure
and his intense renunciation, King Krishnananda and Narayani Devi began to think about what to do with
him. Seeing that he was not inclined towards family life, and that he might soon leave home
unexpectedly to go to Vrindavan they became very worried. They employed a guard to watch over him,
so that he couldn't leave. Narottama Das saw that the difficulties involved in escaping were becoming
more impassable than the Himalayas, and thought that he might never be able to go to Vrindavana and
absorb himself in the worship of the holy feet of Sri Gauranga. Thinking only of how to get the mercy of
Shri Gaura-Nityananda, he began to pray very earnestly for guidance from them. And so it came to pass
that some messengers came from the Ruler of Bengal, informing King Krishnananda that the ruler of
Bengal wanted to meet with him. In order to meet with the Ruler of Bengal, Raja Krishnananda and his
brother Purushottama Datta set out on a long journey to the court of the Ruler of Bengal.

Narottama took advantage of the moment, thinking it to be a good opportunity to leave home. At that
time, he secretly left his mother and his protectors, turned towards Vrindavan and began his journey to
that holy land. It was on the full moon day in the month of Kartika that Narottama Thakura left his
family behind. Passing through Bengal in a short time, he soon found himself on the road to Mathura.
All the other pilgrims he would meet were very affectionate toward Narottama, as they could recognize
him as the son of the king. He would sometimes live by drinking milk and sometimes would eat the roots
and fruits as he went along. His constant hankering to see Vrindavan made his hunger and thirst go away.
As he moved from place to place, he would hear the glories of Gaura and Nityananda from the mouths of
many devotees. In this way he was always thinking about their lotus feet, constantly absorbed in
meditation. As he walked and walked, he prayed to the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as he has
written: "ara kabe nitai chand...." "When will Nityananda show his mercy to me and free me from the
world of birth and death? By his mercy one may give up material enjoyment and purify his mind. In this
way, by the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, one can attain Vrindavana."

In this way, walking and walking, Narottama das arrived in Mathura and, seeing the Yamuna, he offered
many prayers. Remembering the names of the Six Goswamis headed by Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, he
began to weep in ecstasy. Gradually he came to Vrindavan itself and entered into that holy land. He was
sent by Sri Jiva Goswami to serve the lotus feet of Lokanatha Goswami. Lokanatha Maharaj was very
ancient, and was so deeply agonized by the pain of separation from Sri Gauranga that it was as if his very
life had been taken away. Narottama offered his obeisances to the lotus feet of Sri Lokanatha and
Lokanatha asked him, "Who are you?" Narottama said, "I am your fallen servant. I wish to serve your
lotus feet." Lokanatha replied, "How can I, who am unable to serve Gaura-Nityananda, accept any
service?"

After this, Narottama Thakura would secretly go in the middle of the night to the place where Lokanatha
Maharaj would pass stool and urine, and cleanse the area, maintaining everything there very nicely. After
a year of serving in this way, his service was recognized by Lokanatha Goswami, and bestowed his mercy
upon Narottama Thakura. On the full moon day of the month of Sravana, he initiated Narottama Thakura
as his disciple.

He used to eat by practicing madhukari, and would study the Goswami scriptures under the guidance of
Shri Jiva Goswami. Srinivas Acharya was his dear friend, and together the two of them used to study
under Jiva Goswami. At that time Shyamananda Prabhu arrived from Gauda-Desh; he also began
studying the Goswami's scriptures under the guidance of Shri Jiva Goswami. These three with one mind
performed their bhajan in Vrindavana and yet still they felt that their inner aspiration had not attained its
complete fulfillment. One day Jiva Gosami called the three of them to him and said "In the future, you
must preach the message of Sriman Mahaprabhu far and wide. Taking the literatures of the Goswamis
you must quickly go to Bengal and begin preaching."

The three of them gave up their residence in Vrindavana and accepting the order of their guru on their
heads. Taking the treasured scriptures of the Goswamis with them they started on their journey to
Bengal.

After seeing the holy birthplace of Nityananda, Narottama started out for Kheturi Gram. As the Bhakti
Ratnakara says, "After inquiring about the way to Kheturi Gram from the local people, he quickly came to
the banks of the Padmavati. Crossing over the Padmavati, he arrived in Kheturi. Upon his arrival, all the
people of the village wanted to be the first to meet him." Since Narottam had been away for so long,
there was a big welcoming celebration. Hearing of his arrival, the residents of Kheturi Gram all began
making preparations to welcome him. Raja Krishnananda and Shri Purushottama Datta, the father and
uncle of Narottama had already passed away, and had gone back to godhead, to the spiritual world. But
Purushottama, Narottama's uncle had a son whose name was Shri Santosha Datta. After the passing of
King Krishnananda and Purushottama, he was shown much wealth and material enjoyment. Santosh. was
the foremost of saintly persons in the village. And when he heard that Narottama Thakura was about to
bless that town with his holy footsteps after such a long time, in order to be the first one to greet
Narottama, he rushed out with the rest of the devotees to wait for him on the road outside Kheturi Gram.

After some time, Narottama could be seen in the distance. Upon seeing him, Santosh, after bowing
prostrate with full obeisances, went forward with tears of ecstasy in his eyes, falling on the ground again
and again to take the dust of Narottama's lotus feet. At this, Narottama affectionately embraced Santosh
and asked how he had been faring all this time, asking him many questions about his health, happiness
and well-being.

A few days later, Narottama Thakura initiated Santosh with the Radha-Krishna mantra. Raja Santosh
Datta had previously wanted that a temple to be built and a deity installed. Now he begged at Narottama
Thakura's lotus feet for his permission. Narottama gladly gave his approval. Within

Within a few months, Raja Santosh Datta had seen to it that a large temple was built. The temple
compound included a big storehouse for food, a kirtan hall, a residence hall and ashram for devotees, a
bathing pond, a beautiful flower garden, and a guest house. On the full moon day of Phalguna on the
festival day of Mahaprabhu's appearance the temple was dedicated and the deities were installed and a
great festival, which can only be compared to the Rajasuya-yajna of Yudhistira Maharaja in its vast
expasiveness began and was celebrated for miles around. Messengers were sent out for miles around
Kheturi Gram, to near and distant lands, to invite kings, landowners, poets, pandits, Vaishnavas, authors,
as well as many other illustrious guests. Some were sent far and wide to invite the topmost singers and
orators. Preparations were made to install six deities at one time.

Seeing the glories of Shrila Narottama Thakura, the society of smarta brahmanas roasted with
envy. A large faction of them went to the Raja Nrishinga and petitioned him for redress. They told him:
"Maharaja! If you don't rescue the brahmanas, your reputation will be ruined and your death will be
assured. The son of Raja Krishnananda Datta, Narottama Thakura, is a shudra—and yet he dares to make
disciples of the brahmanas. If this goes on, we shall all be drowned like the members of the Yadu
dynasty."

Raja Narasingha said, "I shall protect you. But please tell me, what is to be done?"

The brahmanas said we shall all go to Kheturi Gram along with the great and famous, the world-
conquering scholar Mahadigvijay Pandit Shri Rupa Narayana and defeat Narottama. With that great
pandit as our leader, Narottama will not be able to say anything. You please assist us in all this."

The king, Raja Nrishingha said, "I myself shall accompany you every step of the way. In this
way, that group of brahmanas along with the great and learned world-conquering pandit Rupa Narayana
began their journey to Kheturi Gram. As they were traveling on the road someone heard the news and
went to Kheturi Gram where he informed Shrila Ramachandra Kaviraja and Narottama Thakura.

When Shri Ramachandra Kaviraja and Shri Ganganarayana Cakravarti heard all this, they became
very disturbed. Thereafter, after some inquiry, the two of them came to know that the party of smarta
pandits, were about to arrive in the marketplace of a town called Kumara Pura, and that after resting there
for one day, they would reach Kheturi Gram the following day. Ramchandara and Ganganarayana
quickly went to that marketplace in Kumarpura and the two of them set up two different shops. Shri
Ramchandra Kaviraja set up a stall for selling clay pots and Ganganarayana Chakravarti set himself up in
a stall selling pan and betel nut.

In this way, along with Raja Narashinga, the smarta pandits arrived in the marketplace of
Kumarpura and set up their camp near the shops. The disciples of the pandits went to buy some clay pots
for cooking with and went to the pottery shop. The potter (who was Ramchandra Kaviraja) began
speaking to them in pure Sanskrit. The disciples of the pandits began speaking in Sanskrit also, and soon
they began arguing back and forth in Sanskrit and were defeated. In the same way, when the students
went to purchase pan and betel nuts from the shop of the pan-walla (Ganganarayana Chakravarti) he
spoke to them in pure Sanskrit. They also began to argue. Gradually their teachers arrived at the place
where the argument was going on and found themselves unable to reply to the arguments of the pan-walla
and the clay pot walla. Finally the king, Raja Narasingha, arrived on the scene the great pandit Rupa
Narayana. At that time a great uproar of argumentation filled the four directions. In the presence of the
king, the potter and the pan-walla defeated all the smarta brahmanas, including Rupa Narayana. Raja
Nrishinga made some inquries and came to know that the pan-walla and potter were disciples of
Narottama Das. At that time he said to the pandits when you are unable to defeat a common, ordinary
disciple of Narottama in the matter of siddhanta, how will you defeat Narottam himself?"

The smarta pandits were silent. Realizing their defeat, they made preparations to return to their
own villages.

That evening, King Raja Narasingha and Shri Rupa Narayana saw Durgadevi in a dream. She
told them, "If you don't accept the shelter of Narottam'a lotus feet, I will cut you all to pieces with my
sharpened sword." The following morning Raja Narasimgha and Rupa Narayana arrived at the place of
Narottama Thakura. Narottama Thakura received them with great affection and with all due respect and
cordiality, offering them a seat. He said, "I am very fortuante to have the company of such highly learned
and noble personages such as your good selves."

Raja Narashinga and Rupa Narayana, were overwhelmed at Narottama's polite and gentle Vaishnva
behavior and fell prostrate at his lotus feet begging forgiveness for their offenses. At length, upon being
hearing of the pronouncement that Durga Devi had given them, Narottama smiled very sweetly.
Thereafter, within a few days, he initiated them in the he initiated them in the Radha Krishna mantra.

The disappearance of Shri Narottam Das Thakura

Shrila Narottama Thakura was constantly absorbed in singing the glories of Shri Gauranga and
Nityananda. Day after day many atheists, agnostics, offenders, Shiva worshippers, followers of Durga,
dry logicians, mental speculators and karmis were purified by the touch of his holy lotus feet. Taking the
blessings of Narottama, Shri Ramachandra Kaviraja went to Shri Vrindavana Dhama. After a few months
there, he entered into the etneral lila of Shri Radha and Govinda. This extremely terrible and unbearable
news came to Shrinivas Acharya, and, unable to bear the separation from his dear disciple, he too passed
away from this earth and entered into the eternal pastimes of Radha and Govinda. Hearing all this
terrible news, Shrila Narottama plunged into the ocean of separation where he began to drown. In the
great and unbearable agony of separation he wrote the song, "ye anilo premadhana." Barely able to keep
afloat inthe ocean of separation, Shrila Narottam Thakura went near banks of the Ganges in the village
called Gambhilaya and entered a temple of Mahaprabhu. Narottam ordered the devotees to perform
kirtan. The devotees began performing Sankirtan. After Sankirtan, Narottam Thakura went to the river's
edge, and with tears in his eyes took darshan of the Ganges, offering his obeisances again and again. At
that time, he entered the waters of the Ganges. After entering a short distance into the water he requested
all the devotees to fill the four directions with the loud chanting of the holy name in Sankirtan. At that
time, Shri Ramakrishna Acharya and Shri Ganganarayana Cakravarti began two kirtans in two different
places. In the midst of all this, the Thakura told two of them, "Pour the waters of the Ganges over my
body." Saying this, everyone was immersed in the waves of Sankirtan. As the kirtan went on they were
just ready to take pour Ganges water over the body of Shri Narottama Thakura, when just at that moment
Shrila Narottama Das Thakura, who was absorbed in chanting the holy name in Sankirtana, merged into
the waters of the Ganges and vanished from worldly view. His disappearance day is celebrated on the
Krishna Panchami day of the month of Karttika.