Purusottama dasa Thakura avirbhava tithi - Appearance Day of Sri Purusottama dasa Thakura - Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

[Joseph Y Langevin]

Subject: Sri Purusottama dasa Thakura avirbhava tithi - Appearance Day of Sri Purusottama dasa Thakura - Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 [Mayapura, West Bengal, Bharata Bhumi time]

 

Srila Prabhupada explains the exalted position of Sri Purusottama dasa Thakura

compiled by Yasoda nandana dasa

 

For four generations the family of Purushottam Das consisted of eternally perfect direct associates of Mahaprabhu: Kamsari Sen, Sadashiva Kaviraj, Purushottam Thakur, and Kanu Thakur. The Gaura-ganodesha-dipika identifies Kamsari Sen as Ratnavali Sakhi and Sadashiva Kaviraj as Chandravali (156). (In the image: Krishna Chandravali, Rithora).

 

ājanma nimagna nityānandera caraṇe

nirantara bālya-līlā kare kṛṣṇa-sane

 

SYNONYMS

 

ājanma—from birth; nimagna—merged; nityānandera—of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu; caraṇe—in the lotus feet; nirantara—always; bālya-līlā—childish play; kare—does; kṛṣṇa-sane—with Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From birth, Puruṣottama dāsa was merged in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, and he always engaged in childish play with Lord Kṛṣṇa.

 

PURPORT

 

Sadāśiva Kavirāja and Nāgara Puruṣottama, who were father and son, are described in the Caitanya-bhāgavata as mahā-bhāgyavān, greatly fortunate. They belonged to the vaidya caste of physicians. The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 156, says that Candrāvalī, a most beloved gopī of Kṛṣṇa's, later took birth as Sadāśiva Kavirāja. In verses 194 and 200 it is said that Kaṁsāri Sena, the father of Sadāśiva Kavirāja, was formerly the gopī named Ratnāvalī in Kṛṣṇa's pastimes. All the family members of Sadāśiva Kavirāja were great devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Puruṣottama dāsa Ṭhākura sometimes lived at Sukhasāgara, near the Cākadaha and Śimurāli railway stations. All the Deities installed by Puruṣottama Ṭhākura were formerly situated in Beleḍāṅgā-grāma, but when the temple was destroyed the Deities were brought to Sukhasāgara. When that temple merged into the bed of the Ganges, the Deities were brought with Jāhnavā-mātā's Deity to Sāhebaḍāṅgā Beḍigrāma. Since that place also has been destroyed, all the Deities are now situated in the village named Cānduḍe-grāma, which is situated one mile up from Pālapāḍā, as referred to above.: https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/11/39

 

tāṅra putra--mahāśaya śrī-kānu ṭhākura

yāṅra dehe rahe kṛṣṇa-premāmṛta-pūra

 

SYNONYMS

 

tāṅra putra—his son; mahāśaya—a respectable gentleman; śrī-kānu ṭhākura—of the name Śrī Kānu Ṭhākura; yāṅra—whose; dehe—in the body; rahe—remained; kṛṣṇa-prema-amṛta-pūra—the nectar of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Kānu Ṭhākura, a very respectable gentleman, was the son of Puruṣottama dāsa Ṭhākura. He was such a great devotee that Lord Kṛṣṇa always lived in his body.

 

PURPORT

 

To go to the headquarters of Kānu Ṭhākura, one has to proceed by boat from the Jhikaragāchā-ghāṭa station to the river known as Kapotākṣa. Otherwise, if one goes about two or two and a half miles from the Jhikaragāchā-ghāṭa station, he can see Bodhakhānā, the headquarters of Kānu Ṭhākura. The son of Sadāśiva was Puruṣottama Ṭhākura, and his son was Kānu Ṭhākura. The descendants of Kānu Ṭhākura know him as Nāgara Puruṣottama. He was the cowherd boy named Dāma during kṛṣṇa-līlā. It is said that just after the birth of Kānu Ṭhākura, his mother, Jāhnavā, died. When he was about twelve days old, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu took him to His home at Khaḍadaha. It is ascertained that Kānu Ṭhākura was born sometime in the Bengali year 942 (A.D. 1535). It is said that he took birth on the Ratha-yātrā day. Because he was a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa from the very beginning of his life, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu gave him the name Śiśu Kṛṣṇadāsa. When he was five years old he went to Vṛndāvana with Jāhnavā-mātā, and upon seeing the ecstatic symptoms of Kānu Ṭhākura, the Gosvāmīs gave him the name Kānāi Ṭhākura.

 

In the family of Kānu Ṭhākura there is a Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Deity known as Prāṇavallabha. It is said that his family worshiped this Deity long before the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When there was a Maharashtrian invasion of Bengal, the family of Kānu Ṭhākura was scattered, and after the invasion one Harikṛṣṇa Gosvāmī of that family came back to their original home, Bodhakhānā, and re-established the Prāṇavallabha Deity. The descendants of the family still engage in the service of Prāṇavallabha. Kānu Ṭhākura was present during the Kheṭari utsava, when Jāhnavā-devī and Vīrabhadra Gosvāmī were also present. One of Kānu Ṭhākura's family members, Mādhavācārya, married the daughter of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, who was named Gaṅgādevī. Both Puruṣottama Ṭhākura and Kānu Ṭhākura had many disciples from brāhmaṇa families. Most of the disciplic descendants of Kānu Ṭhākura now reside in the village named Gaḍabetā, by the river Śilāvatī, in the Midnapore district.     https://prabhupadabooks.com/cc/adi/11/40

 ______________________

Purushottama Dasa Thakura – Biography

Purushottama Dasa Thakura

   “The twenty-third and twenty fourth prominent Devotees of Nityananda Prabhu were Sadashiva Kaviraja and his son Purushottama dasa, who was the tenth gopala. Since birth, Purushottama dasa Thakura was merged in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, and he always engaged in childish play with Lord Krishna.” – Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami 

Sadashiva Kaviraja was greatly fortunate. His son was named Shri Purushottama dasa. Purushottama dasa Thakura had no concern for his external body; Shri Nityananda Prabhu always resided within the core of his heart.” (Chaitanya Bhagvat Antya 5.741-742)

   “Sadashiva Kaviraj was a great personality. Purushottam Das was his son. From birth, Purushottam das was absorbed in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, and he always engaged in childish play with Lord Krishna. His son was named Shri Kanu Thakur, a very respectable gentleman. His body was saturated with the nectar of Love for Lord Krishna.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.11.38-40)

   Vrindavan Das Thakur has also named Purushottam Das as one of Nityananda Prabhu's chief associates.
 
   “Sadashiva Kaviraj was very fortunate to have a son like Purushottam Das. Purushottam Das had no external consciousness of his body, for Nityananda Prabhu is constantly acting through him.” (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.5.741-2)

Lineage

   For four generations the family of Purushottam Das consisted of eternally perfect direct associates of Mahaprabhu: Kamsari Sen, Sadashiva Kaviraj, Purushottam Thakur, and Kanu Thakur. The Gaura-ganodesha-dipika identifies Kamsari Sen as Ratnavali Sakhi and Sadashiva Kaviraj as Chandravali (156).
 
   Shri Purushottama dasa Thakura had three principal disciples: Shri Mahdvacharaya, Shri Yadavacharya, and Devakinandana dasa. They were from brahmana families. Shri Mahvacharya later became the husband of Nityananda Prabhu’s daughter Ganga Devi. Shri Devakinandana dasa was the author of an important book glorifying the lives of different Vaishnavas. Purushottama dasa Thakura’s wife name was Jahnava. She passed away just after bearing Purushottama dasa Thakura’s son Kanu. Hearing the news, Nityananda Prabhu went to the house of Purushottama dasa Thakura and took his son Kanu with him to his own village of Khadadaha.

Shrila Prabhupada says

   Sadashiva Kaviraja and Nagara Purushottama, who were father and son, are described in the Chaitanya-Bhagavata as maha-bhagyavan, greatly fortunate. They belonged to the vaidya caste of physicians. The Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika, verse 156, says that Chandravali, a most beloved gopi of Krishna, later took birth as Sadashiva Kaviraja, who was a great Devotee of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

   Purushottama dasa Thakura sometimes lived at Sukhasagara, near the Chakadaha and Simurali railway stations.

   All the Deities installed by Purushottama Thakura were formerly situated in Beledana-grama, but when the Temple was destroyed, the Deities were brought to Sukhasagara. When that Temple merged in the bed of the Ganges, the Deities were brought with Janava-mata’s Deity to Sahebasanga Bedigrama. Since that place also has been destroyed, all the Deities are now situated in the village named Chandudegrama, which is situated one mile up from Palapada, as referred to above."

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur says

   Purushottam Das Thakur lived at Sukhasagara, midway between the Chakdaha and Simurali railway stations. The Deities he installed were formerly served in Beledanga village, but when the Temple fell into the river, the Deities were taken to Sukhasagara. That Temple was also swallowed by the Ganges and so the Deities were brought with Jahnava Mata's Deity to Sahebdanga Berigram. Since that place was also destroyed, all the Deities were again moved about three or four miles to the village named Chanduregram, on the banks of the Ganges about one mile up from Pal Para.” (Anubhasya 1.11.39) 

Devakinandana Das, disciple of Purushottam Thakur writes

   “I worship Sadashiva Kaviraj with great attentiveness. He was constantly intoxicated with love and had no external consciousness… I bow down to my worshipable Lord, Purushottam Thakur. Who can list his incomparable qualities? He was merciful to those who were devoid of virtue, displaying the natural power of his compassion. When only seven years old, he was so intoxicated with love for Krishna that he danced in a way that enchanted the entire world.”

 

In Vaiṣṇava-vandanā, Devakīnandana Dāsa, the disciple of Puruṣottama Ṭhākura writes:

 

iṣta-deva vando śrī-puruṣottama nāma

ke kahite pare tā’ra guṇa anupama

 

sarva-guṇa-hīna tāhāre dayā kare

‘apanāra sahaja-karuṇā-śakti-bale

 

saptama vatsare jā’ra śrī-kṛṣṇa-unmāda

bhuvana-mohana-nṛtya sakati agādha

 

[I bow down to my worshipable Lord, Puruṣottama Dāsa Ṭhākura. Who can list his incomparable qualities? He was merciful to those who were devoid of virtue, displaying the natural power of his compassion. When only seven years old, he was so intoxicated with love for Kṛṣṇa that he danced in a way that enchanted the entire world”.]

 

Gaudiya-Vaishnava Abhidhana

   “Some people say that Purushottam's surname was Nagar, while others say that the name Nagar comes from the name of the area where he lived. Since the five villages (Beledanga, Berigram, Sukhasagar, Manasapota and Pal Para) are so close together, this area is sometimes called Nagaradesh. Purushottam once ate snake poison when in a trance state without experiencing any ill effects. This was a source of great astonishment to all who witnessed it. Many of Nityananda Prabhu's associates often displayed such miraculous powers.”

Sadashiva Kaviraja was greatly fortunate. His son was named Shri Purushottama dasa. Purushottama dasa Thakura had no concern for his external body; Shri Nityananda Prabhu always resided within the core of his heart.” (Chaitanya Bhagvat Antya 5.741-742)