Srila Prabhupada glorifies Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura:
Vrindavana dasa Thakura’s birth
narayani–caitanyera ucchista-bhajana
tanra garbhe janmila sri-dasa-vrindavana
SYNONYMS
narayani—of the name Narayani; caitanyera—of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ucchista-bhajana—eater of the remnants of food; tanra—of her; garbhe—in the womb; janmila—took birth; sri-dasa-vrindavana—Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura.
TRANSLATION
Narayani eternally eats the remnants of the food of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura was born of her womb.
PURPORT
In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, a book written by Kavi-karnapura that describes all the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and who they previously were, there is the following statement regarding Narayani:
ambikayah svasa yasin
namna srila-kilimbika
krsnocchistam prabhunjana
seyam narayani mata
When Lord Krishna was a child, He was nursed by a woman named Ambika, who had a younger sister named Kilimbika. During the time of Lord Caitanya’s incarnation, the same Kilimbika used to eat the remnants of food left by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That Kilimbika was Narayani, who was a niece of Srivasa Thakura’s.
Later on, when she grew up and married, Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura was born from her womb. A devotee of Lord Sri Krishna is celebrated in terms of devotional service rendered to the Lord; thus we know Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura as the son of Narayani.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura notes in this connection that there is no reference to his paternal ancestry because there is no need to understand it.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Krishna and Guru : Adi 8.41 : PURPORT :
Vrindavana dasa Thakura as the author of Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata
vrindavana-dasa–narayanira nandana
‘caitanya-mangala’ yenho karila racana
SYNONYMS
vrindavana-dasa—Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura; narayanira nandana—son of Narayani; caitanya-mangala—the book of the name Caitanya-mangala; yenho—who; karila—did; racana—composition.
TRANSLATION
Vrindavana dasa Thakura, the son of Srimati Narayani, composed Sri Caitanya-mangala [later known as Sri Caitanya-bhagavata]
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityananda : Adi 11.54 :
Vrindavana dasa as the reincarnation of Veda Vyasa
bhagavate krsna-lila varnila vedavyasa
caitanya-lilate vyasa–vrindavana dasa
SYNONYMS
bhagavate—in Srimad-Bhagavatam; krsna-lila—the pastimes of Lord Krishna; varnila—described; veda-vyasa—Dvaipayana Vyasadeva; caitanya-lilate—in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya; vyasa—Vedavyasa; vrindavana dasa—Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura.
TRANSLATION
Srila Vyasadeva described the pastimes of Krishna in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Vyasa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Vrindavana dasa.
PURPORT
Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura was an incarnation of Vedavyasa and also a friendly cowherd boy named Kusumapida in Krishna-lila.
In other words, the author of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura, the son of Srivasa Thakura’s niece Narayani, was a combined incarnation of Vedavyasa and the cowherd boy Kusumapida. There is a descriptive statement by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in his commentary on Sri Caitanya-bhagavata giving the biographical details of the life of Vrindavana dasa Thakura
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 11: The Expansions of Lord Nityananda : Adi 11.55 : PURPORT
vrindavana-dasa iha ‘caitanya-mangale’
vistari’ varnila nityananda-ajna-bale
SYNONYMS
vrindavana-dasa—Thakura Vrindavana dasa; iha—this; caitanya-mangale—in his book Caitanya-mangala; vistari’-expanding; varnila—described; nityananda—of Sri Nityananda Prabhu; ajna—of the order; bale—on the strength.
TRANSLATION
By the order and strength of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura has elaborately described in his Caitanya-mangala all that I have not.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 17: The Pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Youth : Adi 17.330
Srila Prabhupada explains the glories of Sri Caitanya-Bhagavata
ore mudha loka, suna caitanya-mangala
caitanya-mahima yate janibe sakala
SYNONYMS
ore—O all of you; mudha—foolish; loka—people; suna—just hear; caitanya-mangala—the book of this name; caitanya—Lord Caitanya’s; mahima—glories; yate—in which; janibe—you will know; sakala—all.
TRANSLATION
O fools, just read Sri Caitanya-mangala! By reading this book you can understand all the glories of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.
PURPORT
Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura’s Caitanya-bhagavata was originally entitled Caitanya-mangala, but when Srila Locana dasa Thakura later wrote another book named Caitanya-mangala, Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura changed the name of his own book, which is now therefore known as Caitanya-bhagavata.
The life of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is very elaborately described in the Caitanya-bhagavata, and Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has already informed us that in his Sri Caitanya-caritamrta he has described whatever Vrindavana dasa Thakura has not mentioned. This acceptance of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata by Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami indicates his acceptance of the disciplic succession. A writer of transcendental literature never tries to surpass the previous acaryas.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Krishna and Guru : Adi 8.33 : PURPORT
Srila Prabhupada explains the great potency of hearing Caitanya-Bhagavata
vrindavana-dasa kaila ‘caitanya-mangala’
yanhara sravane nase sarva amangala
SYNONYMS
vrindavana-dasa—of the name Vrindavana dasa; kaila—compiled; caitanya-mangala—the book named Caitanya-mangala; yanhara—of which; sravane—by hearing; nase—annihilated; sarva—all; amangala—inauspiciousness.
TRANSLATION
Thakura Vrindavana dasa has composed Sri Caitanya-mangala. Hearing this book annihilates all misfortune.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 8: The Author Receives the Orders of Krishna and Guru : Adi 8.35
Srila Prabhupada explains the result and benefit of hearing Caitanya-Bhagavata
caitanya-nitaira yate janiye mahima
yate jani krsna-bhakti-siddhantera sima
SYNONYMS
caitanya-nitaira—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu; yate—in which; janiye—one can know; mahima—all glories; yate—in which; jani—I can understand; krsna-bhakti—of devotion to Lord Krishna; siddhantera—of the conclusion; sima—limit.
TRANSLATION
By reading Sri Caitanya-mangala one can understand all the glories and truths of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda and come to the ultimate conclusion of devotional service to Lord Krishna.
PURPORT
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the authoritative reference book from which to understand devotional service, but because it is very elaborate, few men can understand its purpose. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the original commentary on the Vedanta-sutra, which is called nyaya-prasthana.
It was written to enable one to understand the Absolute Truth through infallible logic and argument, and therefore its natural commentary, Srimad-Bhagavatam, is extremely elaborate. Professional reciters have created the impression that Srimad-Bhagavatam deals only with Krishna’s rasa-lila, although Krishna’s rasa-lila is described only in the Tenth Canto (chapters 29-35). They have in this way presented Krishna to the Western world as a great woman-hunter, and therefore we sometimes have to deal with such misconceptions in preaching.
Another difficulty in understanding Srimad-Bhagavatam is that the professional reciters have introduced bhagavata-saptaha, or seven-day readings of the Bhagavatam. They want to finish Srimad-Bhagavatam in a week, although it is so sublime that even one verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, if properly explained, cannot be completed in three months. Under these circumstances, it is a great aid for the common man to read Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura’s Caitanya-bhagavata, for thus he can actually understand devotional service, Krishna, Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. Srila Rupa Gosvami has said:
sruti-smrti-puranadi-
pancaratra-vidhim vina
aikantiki harer bhaktir
utpatayaiva kalpate
“Devotional service to the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic scriptures like the Upanisads, Puranas, Narada-pancaratra, etc., is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society.” Due to misunderstanding Srimad-Bhagavatam, people are misled regarding the science of Krishna. However, by reading Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura’s book one can very easily understand this science.
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition: Cc. Adi-lila The Author Receives the Orders of Krishna and Guru : Adi 8.36
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vedavyaso ya evasid daso vrindavano’dhuna
sakha yah kusumapidah karyatas tam samavishat
Vedavyasa became Vrindavan Das Thakur. Krishna’s friend Kusumapida also entered into him for special purposes. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 109)
Vedavyasa described Krishna-lila in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Non-different from Vyasa, Vrindavan Das described Mahaprabhu’s lila in his Chaitanya Bhagavat. His book was first called Chaitanya Mangala, but when Locana Das gave the same name to his biography of the Lord, it was dubbed “Chaitanya Bhagavat”.
Vrindavan Das’s mother, Narayani
Vrindavan Das was born on the Krishna-dvadashi of the month of Vaishakh in 1429 of the Shaka era (1507 AD). Some say he was born in Mamgachi in the Nabadwip area, others say his birthplace was in Kumarahatta. His father was Vaikunthanatha Vipra, who originally came from Sylhet (Sylhet), his mother Narayani Devi. Narayani was the daughter of Srivasa Pandit’s elder brother, Shrinalina Pandit. Kavi Karnapura has also mentioned her name in his Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika:
ambikayah svasa yasin namna shrila-kilimbika
krishnocchishtam prabhuïjana seyam narayani mata
Kilimbika, who used to eat Krishna’s remnants, was the younger sister of Krishna’s nurse Ambika (Srivasa’s wife, Malini). In Mahaprabhu’s lila, she became Narayani.
Narayani also achieved fame because she received Gaurasundara’s mercy when he gave her his remnants. When the Lord displayed his divine form in the Mahaprakasha in Srivasa Angan, Narayani was only a small child of four, but the Lord made her intoxicated with the ecstasy of prema. Whether born in Mamagachi or in Kumarahatta, Vrindavan Das later lived in the village of Denuria, within the Matreshvara precinct of Burdwan district. Thus Denuria is considered to be his Shripata. He spent some of his childhood with his mother in Mamagachi, at the home of his maternal grandparents where Narayani was married. Vrindavan Das’s Gaura-Nitai deities are still worshiped at the Mamagachi home. When his father died, he and his mother moved to Srivasa’s house where he received Mahaprabhu’s special blessings.
Because of the copious blessings he received from Nityananda Prabhu, Vrindavan Das is said to have been his initiated disciple.
Vrindavan Das is the recipient of Nityananda’s blessings. He is the original Vyasa of Chaitanya’s pastimes. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 3.20.82)
He wrote Chaitanya Bhagavat in 1535 AD. Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami, the author of Chaitanya Charitamrita, has written the following in praise of Vrindavan Das Thakur:
Vrindavan Das, the son of Narayani, wrote the Chaitanya Mangala. Vedavyasa described Krishna’s life in the Srimad Bhagavatam and Vrindavan Das is the Vyasa of Chaitanya-lila. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.11.54-5)
Just as Vyasadeva compiled Lord Krishna’s pastimes in Srimad Bhagavatam, Thakur Vrindavan Das depicted Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes. His Chaitanya Mangala annihilates all misfortune. From it, I learned the wonders of Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda and came to know all the most subtle doctrines of devotional service to Krishna. Vrindavan Das Thakur has summarized the essence of the teachings of the Srimad Bhagavatam in his Chaitanya Mangala. If even a Muslim or an atheist should listen to Chaitanya Mangala, he immediately becomes a great Vaishnava. An ordinary human being could not have composed such a sublime work; Lord Chaitanya himself has spoken through the mouth of Vrindavan Das. I offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vrindavan Das Thakur who has delivered the entire universe through his book. He was born in the womb of Narayani who eternally enjoys Sri Chaitanya’s remnants. How wonderful is his description of the activites of the Lord, simply by hearing which the three worlds have become sanctified! (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.8.34-42)
Vrindavan Das became so absorbed in the description of Nityananda Prabhu’s lila that he did not elaborately relate all of Mahaprabhu’s activities, only summarizing them in abbreviated form. Krishnadas then elaborated on these undescribed activities in his Chaitanya Charitamrita.
Vrindavan Das the authorized biographer of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and equal to Srila Vyasadeva. He has described the Lord’s pastimes in such a way as to make them sweeter and sweeter. I shall try as far as possible to fill in the accounts he left out out of fear of excessively enlarging his book. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.13.48-9)
Vrindavan Das’s criticisms of Vaishnava aparadha
Vrindavan Das primarily Mahaprabhu’s early activities such as his pastimes as a student, his childhood, his chastisement of the Qazi, his departure from Nabadwip, as well as some aspects of his life in Puri. Vrindavan Das Thakur demonstrated infinite mercy on the fallen souls by warning them:
eta parihare-o je papi ninda kare
tabe lathi maron tar shirera upare
Even after being told how objectionable it is, if someone still blasphemes the Vaishnavas, then I will kick him in the head.
These same words are repeated in the Adi, Madhya and Antya-khandas of the Chaitanya Bhagavat. Some foolish and arrogant persons misunderstand such statements and criticize Vrindavan Das for having made them. Such criticism leads them into the mud of offensiveness. In this connection, the remarks of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, the founder of the Sri Chaitanya Math and all the Gaudiya Maths, are well worth studying: “‘I am ready to kick the heads of those envious and hellish persons who blaspheme Nityananda Prabhu, if by so doing I will be able to forever prevent them from repeating their attempts to show disrespect for the Supreme Lord. Not only that, but if by so doing I can bring about a slear conception of the truth, I will be performing them the greatest service.’
“So says Vrindavan Das, the incarnation of Vyasa and acharya of the Vaishnava faith. If even a single fleck of dust should fall from his foot on the head of a sinful blasphemer, then that person will be blessed and all his sinful conditioning will inevitably be eradicated. In words which embody the Goddess of Learning and a flood of pure devotion, the Thakur reveals compassion for even the most atheistic blasphemer with the unswerving faith appropriate to a servant of Nityananda Prabhu, the supreme guru. He tells them that though they should be the object of indifference due to their foolishness, nevertheless, because of their ignorance of the truth of Nityananda, their insistence on rushing headlong on the path to hell, and their reluctance to act in their own real self-interest, he and other compassionate Vaishnavas like him who practice and preach the Lord’s doctrines unselfishly and disinterestedly act for their welfare. The compassion which is manifested in Vrindavan Das’s statement is beyond the comprehension of those who have no understanding of what is truly in their own self interest. Anyone who follows in the footsteps of Vrindavan Das, the incarnation of Vyasa, and both practices and preaches the Vaishnava religion is always engaged in an effort to bring about the ultimate well-being of everyone. Though he may make a superficial show of wishing to punish the enemies of the Lord, in fact he harbors a compassion toward them which knows no limit.”
Vrindavan Das Thakur’s disappearance day is the Krishna Dashami of Vaishakh. There is some dispute the exact year of his disappearance which was likely 1511 Shaka (1589 AD).
(compiled by Yasoda Nandana dasa)
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