03/02/2026
so fortunate to be aspiring for the lotus feet and to be at Srila Narottama dasa service
🌷Today
1st February 2026
🌿Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura Appearance day
🌿Festival in remembrance of Śrīmān Mahāprabhu' sanyas lila
🌷On the holy appearance day of Śrīla Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura. He took birth as the son of Rājā Kṛṣṇananda, in Kheturī village, [in the town of] Gopālapura of the Rājaśāhī District. Ownce, as Śrī Caitanya-deva was passing through that area He called out, “Narottama! Narottama!”, but nobody could understand why He repeated that name for ‘Śrīla Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura’ had not yet appeared. Hence everyone was perplexed as to why Śrī Caitanya-deva did so..
🌹Śrī Srimad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahāraja , Śrīla Gurudeva
Bali, Indonesia
February 22, 1997
🌹This is a lecture that Śrīla Gurudeva gave in Bali in 1997 on Śrīla Narottama dasa Thakura’s appearance day
🌷Narottama das Thakura was not an ordinary devotee. He was an associate of Śrīmati Radhika Herself, and in his manjari form he is Vilasa-manjari. He was playing a role only, to give inspiration to devotees.
My only aspiration is to attain the lotus feet of Śrī Rupa Gosvami and Śrī Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. This is Narottama dasa's constant prayer."
🌷Śrīla Narottama dasa Thakura, who is one of the solid and strong pillars of Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu's preaching. After the generation of the Six Gosvamis and Śrīla Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Narottama Thakura, Syamananda Prabhu and Srinivasa Acarya became the leaders of the Vaisnavas in Bengal. They took all the books of the Six Gosvamis and other authentic Vaisnava literatures and preached all over Bengal. Especially, Narottama Thakura preached in Eastern India, in such places as Assam and Manipura.
🌷Śrīla 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 Śrī Jiva Gosvami and became attracted to him. Together with Syamananda and Srinivasa, he studied all the sastras from Jiva Gosvami Vedanta-sutra, Śrīmad-Bhagavatam, and especially the Six Sandarbhas. In this way, the three of them became learned in Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Gaudiya siddhantas.
🥀Syamananda Prabhu was a disciple of Hrdayananda of Kalna, yet he joined in to hear the lectures of Sri Jiva Gosvami, and he treated him more like his guru than his Gurudeva, Śrī Hrdayananda. Śrī Narottama Thakura also studied in the school of Śrī Jiva Gosvami. Jiva Gosvami personally told him to take initiation from Lokanatha dasa Gosvami, and he told Srinivasa Acarya to take initiation from Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. In those days there were no restrictions as there are today. Everyone was free to associate with topmost Vaisnavas.
🥀In fact, gurus would advise their disciples: "Take the association of these most exalted Vaisnavas, and in this way you will develop your Krsna consciousness." There was no caste consciousness as there is today: "Don't go to other Vaisnavas, even though they may be very high-class. This is our party, and that is their party, and that is the other group's party." At that time there was no party spirit at all; everyone belonged to the family of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. All used to hear from all.
🥀Jiva Gosvami had such a pure heart, free from any envy, that he told Narottama Thakura and Srinivasa Acarya to take initiation from these two high-class Vaisnavas. They had made up their minds to take initiation from Jiva Gosvami, but he told them: "Oh, they are my seniors. You will be more benefited by taking their shelter." We are not pure enough to speak in this way to our subordinates. Our hearts are not so improved.
Thus, Jiva Gosvami sent them to those two great Vaisnavas but the two had vowed to not make any disciples.
🥀The pastimes of Lokanatha dasa Gosvami have not been told in Caitanya-caritamrta or in any other book. Lokanatha dasa Gosvami was such a topmost elevated Vaisnava that he warned Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Śrīla Rupa Gosvami, Śrīla Sanatana Gosvami, and other writers:
"If you want my mercy, then do not glorify me or write my name in your books." When they assured him of this, only then did he give his blessings and tell them: "Your books will be successfully completed. Krsna's mercy will be on you." It is for this reason that these great Vaisnava authors have not mentioned his name. They obeyed him; they followed his order.
🥀One day, by the order of Jiva Gosvami, a very beautiful prince, that boy Narottama, came to Lokanatha dasa Gosvami and took his foot-dust. Lokanatha dasa Gosvami asked him: "Who are you?"
🥀Narottama replied, "I am a very wretched person, a fallen boy. I want to take shelter of your lotus feet. Please initiate me."
🥀Lokanatha dasa Gosvami flatly refused. He told Narottama, "You can go to any famous Vaisnava and take his shelter. I am a worthless person. I don't know how to do bhajana. I only eat, drink, and sleep. I do not engage in bhakti. It is better that you go to any learned and qualified person."
🥀Narottama dasa Thakura requested again and again, but Lokanatha das Gosvami remained grave and refused to initiate him. Although Narottama dasa Thakura left at that time, he began to think how he could possibly get initiation from this maha-bhagavata.
🥀Narottama dasa was very worried, and began to think how to please him. He began to clean the place where Lokanatha dasa Gosvami was passing stool in the forest. He thus cleaned regularly, every night, and he also cleaned the path to that place. Once, in a very dark night, at about midnight, Lokanatha dasa Gosvami caught hold of the hand of this boy and asked him, "Who are you, and why are you doing this?" Narottama dasa Thakura began to weep bitterly and replied, "Because I want to please you."
"Oh, you are very pure devotee. What do you want?"
"I only want to be initiated by you." Narottama dasa again began to weep.
🥀On seeing the boy's devotion Lokanatha dasa Gosvami was at once moved and accepted him. He told him, "Please come to me after taking bath in the Yamuna."
🥀The next morning Narottama took bath and came to Lokanatha dasa Gosvami, who initiated him into the krsna-mantra (gopala-mantra), klim krsnaya svaha, and the kama-gayatri, klim kamadevaya. He gave him these two mantras and advised him: "Don´t go anywhere. Be seated here with me in my bhajana kutira." He built a hut for him, right next to his own, and said, "Always remain here with me, chant harinama, and hear from me." Narottama dasa did as he was told.
🥀One day at midday, when the sun was very hot, a thirsty farmer came and asked Lokanatha dasa Gosvami, "Please give me some water, or give me some rope and a bucket so that I can pull water from the well." Lokanatha dasa Gosvami did not replay; perhaps he did not even see that person, as he was quite absorbed in his bhajana. Because Lokanatha dasa Gosvami could not hear him, the farmer went to the next hut and asked Narottama: "Oh, young babaji, can you give me some water?" Narottama came out and gave him some water. Thus, the farmer was satisfied and went away.
🥀Later, Lokanath dasa Gosvami called Narottama and said "You don´t know what is bhajana? Krsna is personally His name; there is no difference at all between them."
nama cintamanih krsnas
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
'bhinnatvan nama-naminoh
🥀"The holy name of Krsna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Krsna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krsna's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krsna Himself. Since Krsna's name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krsna's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krsna and Krsna Himself are identical." (Padma Purana)
🥀"In some ways the name is even superior to Krsna. You don´t know this truth? You are serving Krsna (chanting or remembering Krsna means serving Him), but you were thinking that the service of chanting harinama is inferior to giving water to a thirsty person; that is why you served him. You have no belief that Krsna can quench his thirst. Krsna can give anything, but you have no faith in Him. So, return at once to your home. Become qualified there, and then you can come back. At present you are not qualified."
🥀One should have strong faith in Krsna's name. You know the strong faith of Haridasa Thakura? He was whipped in twenty-two market places and his skin and muscles became shredded, but he never left his chanting of harinama.
🥀Lokanatha dasa Gosvami thus ordered Narottama dasa Thakura, "Leave this place." Hearing this Narottama began to weep bitterly. Although Lokanatha das Gosvami had a very soft heart, like a flower, he desired auspiciousness for Narottama dasa, and so he became hard like a stone. It was for Narottama's welfare that he said, "Go from here."
🥀Narottama das Thakura was not an ordinary devotee. He was an associate of Śrīmati Radhika Herself, and in his manjari form he is Vilasa-manjari. He was playing a role only, to give inspiration to devotees.
🥀He was weeping and returned to his home, but he realized everything. In fact, he began to chant and sing in such a way that Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu with all His associates would come to listen to his classes and his singing. He sang pathetically, with tears in his eyes and a choked voice, "Krsna Krsna Hare Hare," and Lalasmayi Prarthana (Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas):
'gauranga' bolite ha'be pulaka-sarira
'hari hari' bolite nayane ba'be nira
🥀"When will that time come that my hairs will stand on end upon singing the name Gauranga? When will my eyes overflow with tears as I chant the holy names of "Hari Hari?"
ara kabe nitai-cander karuna hoibe
samsara-vasana mora kabe tuccha ha'be
🥀"And when will the moon of Nityananda Prabhu bestow His mercy on me? When will material desires become small and insignificant?"
visaya chadiya kabe suddha ha'be mana
kabe hama herabo sri-vrndavana
🥀"When will I renounce material enjoyment and my mind will become purified? When will I see the cinmaya svarupa of Śrī Vrndavana?"
rupa-ragunatha-pade hoibe akuti
kabe hama bujhabo se jugala-piriti
🥀"When will I eagerly follow the path of Śrī Rupa Gosvami and Śrī Raghunatha dasa Gosvami? By their instructions I will be able to understand the divine love of Śrī Radha and Krsna."
rupa-raghunatha-pade rahu mora asa
prarthana koroye sada narottama dasa
🥀"My only aspiration is to attain the lotus feet of Śrī Rupa Gosvami and Śrī Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. This is Narottama dasa's constant prayer."
🥀He sang kirtana along with mrdanga, and each word of his kirtana was uttered by his mrdanga. The mrdanga sounded like the singing of Narottama himself, although it was actually the sweet sound was coming from his mrdanga. Narottama's mood was such that Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Svarupa Damodara, Raya Ramananda, Vakresvara Pandita, Srivasa Pandita, and all of Mahaprabhu's associates appeared and began to dance with Narottama Thakura, and when he stopped his kirtana, they at once disappeared. The thousands of devotees present there were astonished. When he was singing about Sri Radha and Krsna, Radha-Krsna personally came to hear, with all of Their associates, and Krsna was playing beautiful songs on His flute.
🥀Thus, in a few years Narottama dasa Thakura preached all over East Bengal, Assam, and Manipura.
He came from the village Kheturi; he was born and brought up there, and his father and uncle were living there. His father was a big king. Narottama dasa Thakura manifested six Thakuras (Deities) there, namely Radha-Govinda, Radha-Gopinatha, Radha-Madana-mohana, Radha-Vamsidhari, Radha-Giridhari, and Radha-Vallabhi-kanta.
🥀He also organized a great festival that became famous in the Gaudiya-Vaisnava history. Śrīmati Jahnava-devi (who is Ananga-manjari in krsna-lila), the wife of Nityananda Prabhu, was elected as president. All accepted her like their preceptor, including Śrīla Jiva Gosvami and Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.
🥀When Virabhadra, the son of Nityananda Prabhus wife Vasudha, became sixteen years old, he wanted to take initiation, but he could not find any person whom he considered qualified. Someone told him, "Why are you not taking the shelter of Śrīmati Jahnava-devi and being initiated by her?" He said, "She is a lady; I don't want to be initiated by a lady." Then, one early morning, Śrīmati Jahnava-devi was pulling water from a well to take a shower, when Viracandra came to take some advice from her for some necessary work. He saw her pulling out water from the well half naked, with just a towel covering the lower half her body. Both of them were ashamed to see each other in this circumstance, even though she was an elderly and like a mother to him.
Śrīmati Jahnava-devi at once manifested four-arms, with two pulling water from the well and the other two covering her breasts. Astonished, Virabhadra immediately he fell flat at her lotus feet and begged her to forgive his offences. He told her, "I have nothing more to do. I want to take initiation from you right now. You are my guru."
🥀So Śrīmati Jahnava-devi is a very exalted personality, the power (sakti) of Śrī Nityananda Prabhu, and she serves Radha-Krsna in Their conjugal love in the form of Ananga-manjari. Therefore, she was elected as the supreme leader of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. At this festival, all prominent Vaisnavas of that time came together, like Śrī Syamananda Prabhu, Śrī Srinivasa Acarya and hundreds of thousands of other devotees. It was one the biggest festivals in the history of Vaisnavism.
🥀All present were charmed on hearing the sweet songs of Śrī Narottama dasa Thakura, and all of them were blessed with the darsana of Śrī Radha Krsna and Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who came to hear these sweet melodies.
🥀Narottama dasa Thakura was the best devotee of his time. He is an associate of Śrī Radha-Krsna and Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and in fact he is a manifestation of Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
🥀Śrī Lokanatha dasa Gosvami is also an associate of Śrī Radha-Krsna, by the name of Manjulali-manjari. By sending Narottama Thakura back to his village, he played a trick, and by this trick he sent Narottama dasa Thakura to preach all over the world. Had he not done so, no such preaching would have been done; all preaching would have been destroyed. If he had continued to request Narottama to sit and chant harinama in his kutira, there would not have been such great preaching..
All glories to you Śrīla Narottama das Thakura, all glories to Hari Guru and Vaishnavas 💓
