Narottama das thakur biography

Narottama Das Thakur - - the great Vaisnavsky Acharya is a spiritual teacher, the author of many spiritual songs of Bhajanov, who gained great love and popularity among the devoted followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Narottama was born in a royal family, but after his father’s death he transferred his duties to manage the province of one of the brothers and went to Vrindavan, the Holy City, where Krishna was once born.

There he received spiritual initiation from Srila Lokanatha Gosvami, becoming his only student. Subsequently, at the direction of his guru, he was studying with Srila Giva Gosvami. Later, he preached the teachings of Sri Chatani Mahapabhu in Bengal and Oris, organized a large festival of Sankirtana in Kheturi at Gaura Pourney, the day of the appearance of Mahaprabhu. This festival played a very important role in the history of Gaudiy-Vishnavism, thanks to it the theological works of the six state of the Vrindavan began to spread among Vaishnavas.

The most significant poetic works of Narottam Dasa Thakura are known under the names of “Prarthan” and “Prema-Bhactic-Chandrika”, in them the deeper philosophical truths of Bhakti, devoted service to the Lord, are expressed in them. The prediction once, when the Lord of Caitanya made the first attempt to go to Vrindavan, he went along a special route - through the village of Ramakekel, arranging amazing bricks singing spiritual songs and prayers surrounded by a great many people.

Suddenly, Mahaprabhu began to look inseparably towards the remote village of Kheturigram, and tears flowed from his eyes, and the body began to tremble. Closed by ecstasy of love, he shouted: “Narottama, Narottama! Already several times in the middle of the stormy Kirtan, the Lord Caitanya shouted this name. But now, however, he did it with great joy. Tears with a stream flowed from his eyes.

Mahaprabhu discovered the reason for his unusual ecstasy: “Nitnyananda, there, behind the river, in the village of Kheturigram, Narottama will soon be born. Now I will put all my love into the Padma River, and when Nakratama comes here to swim, she will give it to him. ” After Kirtan, the devotees went swimming, and when Mahaprabhu entered Padma, her water rose from the shores, unable to accommodate the Divine Wise, which Caitanya put there birth and youth in the year, in the year of Mahapabhu’s departure, in the full moon of Magh January-February Narottam Das appeared in this world.

As Mahaprabhu predicted, he was born in Kheturi. The boy was unusually beautiful - with graceful hands and like lotus petals with his eyes. The child possessed amazing qualities and became the favorite of the entire Kheturigram. During the traditional rite of the Anna Prashans, when the child was supposed to eat grain foods for the first time, his parents met his fight off his part.

Narratama flatly refused to eat what he was given. However, Vaishnav soon came with the same food, but before that proposed by Krishna, - Nakratama ate it with pleasure. Then everyone realized that for the first time he refused to eat for only one reason: this food was not offered to the Lord. Such behavior of the boy testified to his great devotion to God. When Narratama began to study, everyone was struck by his ingenious memory.

He quickly mastered all academic objects, Sanskrit and Vedic Scriptures. The father of Narottama was the powerful King of Krishnanand Datta, and the mother was called Narayan Devi. They were fabulously rich and raised their son as a crown prince. However, he showed no interest in family life and material pleasures and completely devoted himself to listening to stories about Krishna and the chanting of his name.

His favorite pastime was to sit at the feet of the elderly Brahman Sri Krishnadas, who told him about the games of the Lord Chatanya Mahaprabhu daily. Love for God once, when Narratama was 13 years old, in a dream he was Netinanda Prabhu and said: “Tomorrow at dawn you should take a ablution in the Padme River. Then you will completely get Gaura Premom-love for God. ” Waking up, Nakratama immediately went to the river.

He plunged into the water, began to drink it and felt great changes in himself: his dark skin acquired the golden color of the body of Gauranga Mahapabhu, and the ecstasy that the Lord experienced in the heart of Narottama. Tears flowed from his eyes with a stream, his hair rose, and the body trembled. All day, Nakratama grieved and cried from separation from the Lord.

Parents could not help but notice the miraculous changes that occurred with their beloved Naru. King Krishnananda, Father of Narottama, was afraid that he would leave the royal palace and accept life in the renunciation. For the king, this would be terrible: his only son, the heir to the throne, leaves, as if all wealth is worth nothing. Krishnananda instructed his best guards day and night to guard Nakratam.

And the only occupation of Narottama continued to be the chanting of the names of Radha and Krishna. He prayed: “O my Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu, free me from this crazy family life and let me serve you in the society of Vaishnavas! Once, having fallen into oblivion, Narottama saw Lord Caitanya in front of him. Mahaprabhu said: “Go to Vrindavan!When Narottama was sixteen years old, Jaigirdar, an influential Muslim ruler of this region, demanded that the young man appear to him and bless him.

The father of Krishnanand could not refuse such a significant personality, and Nakratam went on the road. But having reached Jiagirdar's courtyard, he found the opportunity to run. Now or never. Carefully bypassing the guard, he disappeared into the forest. The young man was full of determination to find the way to the Holy Vrindavan, the traveler needed to walk most of India. His tender, cherished body in the royal chambers could hardly endure the hardships of the path, and Nakratama began to experience fatigue and hunger.

Three days later, his legs were covered with blisters, and at some point he lost consciousness from exhaustion. Then Mahaprabhu appeared in front of him in the form of a brahman with golden skin, in his hands he held a pot of milk so that Nakratam could eat. Without recognizing in Brahman, Sri Caitanya himself, Nakratama was forgotten by sleep, weakening from exhaustion.

In a dream, Rupa and Sanatan encouraged him: “Narottama, soon your suffering will end. Mahaprabhu appeared in front of you and brought you milk to support you. Drink everything to the bottom and continue your way to Vrindavan. ” Milk completely restored the forces of Narottama, and he continued his journey. Krishnananda sent a large number of people in search of his son.

One of the groups of experienced guards discovered a young fugitive. He answered their questions like this: “When the husband dies, according to our custom, the faithful wife can enter the fire of Sati and burn with his body on funeral fire. I also go to the fire of dedication to God. When a woman wants to show devotion to her husband in such an extremely, naturally that well -wishers are trying to stop her.

They do not allow her to enter into the fire of the consciousness of God. But you must also understand that I will not be a devoted servant of my Lord, if I do not try to enter this fire. ” The simple and poetic analogy of Narottama touched the guards, and they let him go. One guard even gave him some money for expenses. This was one of the usual examples of the spiritual power of Narratama and his bewitching personality.

The dedication of Lokanatha Gosvami soon the young pilgrim reached Vrindavan. Of all the glorified devoted servants of the Lord, who had the opportunity to get to know each other, the most impression on him was made by Lokanatha Gosvami, whose exceptional modesty and asceticism were recognized by all. Since Mahaprabhu on the eve told Lokanatha in a dream about the imminent coming of Narottama, Lokanatha arranged for them to eat together, and during this lunch the young man told Lokanatha the whole history of his life, in conclusion, admitting that he had already accepted him to his guru.

Lokanatha Gosvami laughed heartily.

In his entire life, he did not take a single student. He is the original guru, the gurus of the universe. What other teachers do you want? You are more elevated than me! Yes, the Lord appeared in front of me in a dream and hugged me, because he was merciful to the fallen. I am the most fallen and sinful, and by his causeless mercy the Lord appeared before me. I was completely lost and without the grace of the spiritual teacher I can’t advance along the path of Bhakti.

Please take me your servant. Mahaprabhu ordered me to accept the initiation from you. ” Lokanatha Gosvami was indecisive: in his entire life he did not accept a single student and did not want to break his vow. However, Narottama was decisive in his desire to get a refuge at the lotus feet of his guru. He regularly listened to Lokanathi lectures, from humility ate only the remains of the teacher’s food.

So a year passed, but Lokanatha was still not ready to initiate his worthy student. Then Narratama Das Thakur decide to serve him secretly. Every day, early in the morning, he came to the place where Lokanatha Gosvami celebrated his natural needs before the morning washing. Once, realizing that someone was serving him, Lokanatha hid in the bushes and saw that it was Narottama that cleans the place of his toilet.

He could not believe his eyes and shouted: “Narottama! What are you doing?! You are a crown prince! The great scientist! Why are you crawling on your knees and cleaning my bowel movements?! I renounced all royal pleasures and in return received the highest happiness in life: the opportunity to serve you in this way. ” Lokanatha was touched by the sincerity of Narottama.

Lokanatha initiated Narottam in accordance with the traditions of Gaudiy-Samipradai, giving him a hare-crown-mantra and a Gayatriantra. In addition, Lokanatha opened Narottama to his eternal spiritual form of Vilas Mandjari and explained that his service in the spiritual world was to boil milk. Having received such mercy from his guru, Nakratam began to plunge into a meditative trance, seeing himself in the image of Manjari, boiling milk for Radhika and other gopies.

Very often, in his perfect form of Siddha deha, he was looking for dry brushwood to maintain fire.